The Steelers are in a pretty good spot as the season nears its climax.
Star pass rusher TJ Watt is set to make a return after dealing with a partially collapsed lung back in early December, which nearly cut his season short. His comeback is a big deal for the Steelers, especially as they face the Ravens in a crucial Week 18 matchup.
Essentially, this Sunday Night Football game will determine who takes the division title and secures the No. 4 seed in the AFC playoffs, while the losing team will be left out of the postseason. Quite the high stakes, right?
This all started on December 10 during a treatment session at the team facility that went horribly wrong.
Watt, now 31, felt immediate pain and was quickly taken to the hospital, where doctors confirmed the lung issue.
Because of the medical complications, he had to sit out the rest of December.
“I didn’t feel good,” he shared with reporters recently. “Right after that, the pain hit hard. Before I knew it, I was in the hospital and needed surgery. The recovery process was different for me, but I’m grateful for all the support. It’s been quite an experience, but I’m feeling good now.”
His last game was on December 7, when the Steelers managed to defeat the Ravens 27-22 in Baltimore.
During that match, Watt made six tackles.
Unfortunately, after the lung incident, he missed out on three games as the Steelers struggled, going 1-2 in that stretch, including what turned out to be a critical loss to the Browns in Week 17.
Watt resumed practicing on Christmas Eve and has since been listed as a full participant on the team’s final injury report.
Defensive coordinator Terrill Austin weighed in, noting, “You always want players with TJ’s impact on the game. Having him back is fantastic. We’ll see how he holds up on Sunday, but his return is a big plus for us.”
Meanwhile, Cameron Heyward, a seasoned player for the Steelers, stressed Watt’s significance as they head into the weekend. “We really need all the help we can get,” he said. “With Baltimore coming to town, having TJ back stabilizes our team. But it’s not just about throwing him in there; we need him to play his game.”
This season, Watt recorded seven sacks and earned Pro Bowl honors for the eighth year in a row. He has also hit a career milestone with his 115th sack, placing him 26th on the all-time list.
