With a division title at stake on Saturday in Baltimore for the Steelers' game against the Ravens, head coach Mike Tomlin is inclined to have an inclusive mentality when it comes to players dealing with injuries.
He's not ready to rule anyone out.
That would include star outside linebacker T.J. Watt, who suffered a sprained ankle late in Sunday's 27-13 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Watt walked off the field without any help after briefly laying on the ground and holding his ankle with 4:50 remaining in the game. He did not return.
But Tomlin said he saw Watt at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex Monday morning and Watt looked much better.
"I'm optimistic about the availability of T.J. based on what I've seen today," Tomlin said.
That would be good news for the Steelers (10-4), who can clinch the AFC North title on Saturday with a win over the Ravens (9-5).
They've already clinched a playoff spot based on both Miami and Indianapolis losing Sunday. But beating the Ravens for the ninth time in the past 10 meetings and clinching the division title would secure the Steelers at least one home playoff game.
Having Watt available would greatly improve their chances of making that happen.
With his 7 tackles, two sacks and one forced fumble in Sunday's loss to the Eagles, Watt has 54 tackles, 11.5 sacks, tied for third in the NFL, a league-best six forced fumbles and 18 tackles for a loss, which also leads the NFL.
The Steelers did not have fellow outside linebacker Alex Highsmith available for their first meeting with the Ravens this season, an 18-16 win at Acrisure Stadium, meaning Nick Herbig started in his place. They have since added veteran outside linebacker Preston Smith at the trade deadline, as well, making that position one of the deeper on the roster.
But the Steelers also are 1-10 in games during his career in which Watt doesn't play.
"All the rushmen are a significant component when you face quarterback mobility, particularly (Baltimore's) Lamar Jackson," Tomlin said. "You know, the addition of Preston has been significant for us. He's a veteran. He knows what to do. He's highly skilled. He's done a nice job of fitting in. We've gotten quality production from our edge people, regardless of who's in the game, and I expect that to continue."
Watt isn't the only player who was hurt Sunday or missed the game with an injury that could be available to the Steelers this week.
Tomlin said he's also optimistic regarding the potential return of defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi (groin), safety DeShon Elliott (hamstring) and wide receiver George Pickens (hamstring), all of whom missed the game against the Eagles due to injury, and cornerback Donte Jackson (back) and quarterback Justin Fields (abdominal) who were injured during the loss.
"The doors are ajar for those guys," Tomlin said. "None of these six guys could be characterized as out as I sit here today. We'll probably start with partial participation with them (Tuesday) and increase that and make decisions as the week goes on."
Regardless of who is in and who might be out, Tomlin intends to coach and play to win against the Ravens, even with a spot in the postseason already clinched.
"We play for a division title this week," Tomlin said. "Those that are healthy will play."
No clarification: In the second quarter of Sunday's game, a scrum occurred in the back of the end zone on a 7-yard pass to Najee Harris that went to the 4-yard line of the Eagles. Tight end Darnell Washington blocked Philadelphia cornerback Darius Slay through the end zone and Slay appeared to throw a punch at Washington as the two were separated.
A number of players from both teams ran to the area and some pushing and shoving ensued.
After a meeting, referee Alan Eck's crew determined only Washington and Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin would be penalized for unnecessary roughness following the play.
The Eagles accepted the penalty on Austin, pushing the Steelers back to the 19. They eventually settled for a field goal.
In a pool report following the game, Eck said none of the officials on the field saw a punch thrown and that replay assist hadn't seen anything, either.
Tomlin, who said he did not get an adequate explanation of the play in-game Sunday, was asked if he had seen the pool report or spoken to the league office regarding the issue on Monday.
"I didn't read the pool report because I saw it as it happened, and I hadn't had a chance to talk to New York because I've been so focused on what's going on with Baltimore in the present day," Tomlin said.
He did get an on-field explanation regarding a penalty for unnecessary roughness on Philadelphia defensive lineman Jalen Carter for using a head slap on Steelers tight end Connor Heyward during a punt.
The Steelers were facing a fourth-and-7 when they lined up to punt and Carter's head slap came prior to the ball being kicked. While officials talked about the foul, the Steelers' offense went back onto the field.
But Eck's crew determined the foul had occurred after the ball had changed possession.
Asked if he was satisfied with Eck's explanation of the play, Tomlin simply replied, "I was not."
•Dale Lolley is co-host of "SNR Drive" on Steelers Nation Radio. Subscribe to the podcast here: Apple Podcast | iHeart Podcast | Pittonline@iheartmedia.com
Getting a stop: The Steelers ran just 41 plays against 77 for the Eagles on Sunday, with 21 of those plays coming after Tomlin's decision to punt from the Philadelphia 46 on fourth-and-7 and trailing 27-13 with just over 10 minutes to play.
Philadelphia got the ball back at its own 3 and then proceeded to run 21 plays and eat up the final 10 minutes of game time.
"It was the distance," Tomlin said of the decision not to keep the offense on the field. "Had it been inside of maybe four or five, I probably would have definitely gone for it. We were outside of five. It was seven. And obviously, from an analytical perspective, the further you get away from the line of gain, the less probable you are at success. Fourth-and-7 probably would require max protection, as in terms of fourth-and-5 or less generally, does not. We had three time outs. I took a chance and thought that we could maybe stop them and get the ball back and play the field-position game based on the distance.
"There are two sides to that coin in terms of decision making, but I'm comfortable with the process that we went through at the time in terms of how we played that situation."
Tomlin trusted his defense.
"I believe that our defense is capable of getting off the field, and that probably was a component of the decision making the punt on fourth-and-7," Tomlin said. "I understand how the game was going, but I've been working with these guys day in and day out for a long time, and particularly in the weighty moments. I just have got confidence in them, and that confidence is unwavering."
