DECEMBER 13: Dry needling is a common treatment for NFL players to relieve muscle pain, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Watt felt “extreme pain” after his dry needling session on Wednesday and was quickly sent to the hospital for treatment and further evaluation.
DECEMBER 12: Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt was admitted to the hospital with a lung injury on Wednesday. Watt has since undergone successful surgery to stabilize and repair a partially collapsed lung, his brother J.J. Watt announced. He’ll be released from the hospital on Friday.
While Watt is expected to make a full recovery, head coach Mike Tomlin announced that he will not play on Monday against the Dolphins (via Brooke Pryor of ESPN). The seven-time Pro Bowler is expected to return this season, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
Watt’s collapsed lung came as a result of a dry needling procedure he underwent at the team facility. The NFLPA has been in contact with Watt and his representation since then, per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. It’s unclear if Watt or the union will take any action against the Steelers. Then-Chargers quarterback Tyrod Taylor suffered a punctured lung while receiving a pain-killing injection in September 2020. Two years later, he sued the Chargers’ doctor for medical malpractice.
Taylor received medical clearance to return to action a month after he punctured his lung. It seems Watt will come back quicker than that, though even a one-game absence is unwelcome news at this stage of the season. With four weeks remaining, the 7-6 Steelers are trying to hold off the Ravens (6-7) and Bengals (4-9) for the AFC North title. It’ll be more difficult to do so without Watt, who will miss his 12th career game in Week 15. The Steelers have gone 1-10 without him, Armando Salguero of OutKick notes.
The 31-year-old Watt has continued serving as one of Pittsburgh’s most effective players this season. He has racked up 53 tackles, 10 TFL, a team-high seven sacks, and three forced fumbles in 13 games. The Steelers have two other strong edge rushers in Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig, who have totaled 6.5 sacks apiece. They and fourth-round rookie Jack Sawyer, who has notched one sack while playing under 20% of defensive snaps, will have to pick up the slack while Watt’s out.
Medical malpractice lawsuit?
Coming soon!
Remember Tyron Taylor with chargers Herbert’s rookie year
Got to watch those steroids
Wait… so they did Tyrod Taylor him?
@stabby mcshank. JJ said it was from dry needling. Aj hawk said he would do it, and its kinda like acupuncture or atleast the best way to explain it, but it’s not supposed to be that deep, someone messed up.
Bro.. so someone jabbed a needle into his lung?
@stabby. Yeah, and he went to the hospital immediately. I guarantee that person was let go on the spot.
Goodell is about to announce that teams can now trade draft picks for competent trainers and medical staff 🙂
Should have let him walk after this year. I could think of a lot of players who’d make the Steelers better for that $42M and Herbig is ready to fill in.
“Mike Tomlin announced that he will not play on Monday.”
Was that even necessary to announce?
The NFL has become a disgusting cesspool of greed coupled with their insane demand for attention. Is anyone else having a hard time watching? I hope Watt recovers