12/12/25 02:53:00
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12/12 14:51 CST Steelers LB TJ Watt has surgery to repair a partially collapsed
lung caused by a dry-needling issue
Steelers LB TJ Watt has surgery to repair a partially collapsed lung caused by
a dry-needling issue
By WILL GRAVES
AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) --- Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt underwent
surgery to repair a partially collapsed lung sustained during a dry-needling
session and will miss Monday's visit by Miami.
J.J. Watt, T.J. Watt's older brother, posted on X that T.J. had the surgery on
Thursday.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said after practice Friday that T.J. Watt was
home resting comfortably but would be unavailable when Pittsburgh (7-6) hosts
the surging Dolphins (6-7).
Asked if Watt could be out for an extended period, Tomlin said he hadn't looked
beyond this week.
Watt was hospitalized on Wednesday after reporting what the club described as
"discomfort" while being treated by Steelers medical staff at the team
facility. J.J. Watt said T.J. was having a dry-needling session at the time.
Dry needling is a treatment used by physical therapists and acupuncturists to
treat pain and movement issues, according to the Cleveland Clinic. The medical
professionals insert needles under the skin to target trigger points in muscles.
Watt has been a fixture on the Steelers' defense for nearly a decade. He was on
the injury report last week with a toe problem, but that didn't stop him from
making his 56th straight regular-season start.
Tomlin said Thursday that Watt had not complained of any issues in his chest at
any point this season. The coach added he had "no idea" about the details of
Watt's dry-needling session but added he was not in a position to "dispute
something said by someone close to him."
A seven-time Pro Bowler and the 2021 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, the
30-year-old Watt has seven sacks this season for the Steelers, who hold a
one-game lead over Baltimore for the AFC North lead with four weeks remaining.
Pittsburgh has struggled historically without Watt in the lineup, most notably
in 2022 when the Steelers went 1-6 while he recovered from a pectoral injury.
Nick Herbig will start in place of Watt against Miami. Herbig has played
exceptionally well at times during his third season. His 6 1/2 sacks are a
career-best and rank second on the team, trailing only Watt.
"I think that (T.J.'s) prepared not just myself, but a bunch of the younger
guys in that sense to be able to take on that larger role, not just as a player
but as a leader, and bringing that energy and just doing everything that he
does right," Herbig said.
Longtime Steelers defensive captain Cam Heyward spoke to Watt on Thursday.
Heyward declined to get into the details of their conversation and said his
concern is more on Watt's health than how the team will deal with his absence.
"You never want to hear anything like that ever happen," Heyward said. "But you
know, more concerned with just how he's doing on, you know, a friend level and
as a brother."
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