The NFL community was shocked to learn on Thursday that Pittsburgh Steelers star pass-rusher T.J. Watt had been hospitalized due to some sort of lung problem.
During Friday’s edition of NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football” program, league insider Tom Pelissero revealed the exact nature of Watt’s issue.
Why exactly was T.J. Watt hospitalized?
“T.J. Watt came into the facility on Wednesday morning, which was actually a player’s day off,” Pelissero explained, per Ross McCorkle of Steelers Depot. “He was coming in for a lift and just felt like he was having some pain. He actually went through, did his lift, did his workout, then went for his normal treatment, was still having pain, and so they decided to get him checked out.”
Following tests, the Steelers determined that Watt had what Pelissero referred to as “a small issue, like a tiny hole in his lung.” According to Pelissero, the problem “has been fixed” and won’t be a “major long-term issue” for the 31-year-old.
T.J. Watt’s brother, former star NFL defensive end J.J. Watt, also shared an update on Friday.
“Yesterday TJ had successful surgery to stabilize and repair a partially collapsed lung suffered Wednesday after a dry needling treatment session at the facility,” J.J. Watt wrote in a social media post. “Recovery timeline is still TBD, but all went well and he is being released from the hospital today. He and his family are very appreciative of everyone’s kind words and well wishes.”
Of course, Watt’s health is far more important than whether or not he will be able to play when the 7-6 Steelers host the 6-7 Miami Dolphins this coming Monday night. Pelissero added during the segment that Watt needs “rest.”
What is T.J. Watt’s status for huge “MNF” game vs. Dolphins?
“You’re talking about an internal injury here,” Pelissero added about Watt’s setback, as Josh Carney shared for Steelers Depot. “[The Steelers] do have an extra day of preparation this week, but at this point, I would say it seems to be trending toward Watt missing a big game on Monday night against the Dolphins.”
Pittsburgh leads the 6-7 Baltimore Ravens and 4-9 Cincinnati Bengals in the battle for the AFC North division title. The Bengals will host the Ravens this Sunday, and Pittsburgh will face off against Baltimore in Week 18. The Steelers earned a 27-22 win over the Ravens on Dec. 7.
Meanwhile, the Dolphins are trying to leapfrog four teams and earn a wild-card playoff berth.
Not long after Pelissero offered his updates, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Steelers as three-point favorites over the Dolphins. It’s far too early to know if Watt will be cleared to play in Pittsburgh’s game at the Detroit Lions (8-5) on Dec. 21.