Steelers rule T.J. Watt out; Mason Rudolph to remain QB1 vs. Bills

Pittsburgh Steelers star outside linebacker TJ Watt has been ruled out of Sunday's wild-card game against the Buffalo Bills because of a knee injury, coach Mike Tomlin announced Tuesday.

Tomlin also announced that Mason Rudolph will continue to play quarterback for Sunday's playoff game. The Steelers have won three straight games since Rudolph was inserted as starter.

Tomlin said the Steelers would “continue to ride the hot hand and not disrupt the apple cart.”

Watt injured his knee during last Saturday's win against the Baltimore Ravens. The team did not reveal the specific nature of Watt's injury. Retired passer JJ Watt announced on social media Sunday that his brother suffered a grade 2 MCL sprain and needed “a few weeks of rest/recovery.”

TJ Watt led the NFL this season with 19 sacks.

On Saturday, rookie Nick Herbig and Markus Golden replaced Watt, and Golden got the sack from quarterback Tyler Huntley to force the Ravens to settle for a field goal on their final drive.

ESPN's Brooke Pryor contributed to this report.