Insider Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported Friday morning that Pittsburgh Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt is going to be fine long term. The 31-year-old went to the hospital this week because of lung discomfort.
But Pelissero did cast doubt over Watt’s availability for Monday night’s contest against the Miami Dolphins. Pelissero concluded his report on NFL Network Friday morning saying Watt needs rest.
When Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers spoke to reporters, though, he said he’s learned to never doubt the former Defensive Player of the Year winner.
“I haven’t talked to T.J.,” Rodgers said to the media, via 93.7 The Fan. “[But] I would never bet against anybody in the Watt family of being able to deal with something small or large and getting back on the field as quickly as possible.”
Steelers’ T.J. Watt ‘Seems Unlikely’ to Play in Week 15
If fans watch all of Pelissero’s update on Watt from early Friday, the NFL insider actually conveyed a similar notion as Rodgers — don’t rule out the edge rusher quickly returning.
It’s also important to note that Pelissero’s wording around Watt’s availability came across more as an educated guess than a report. Still, the insider’s conclusion was Watt probably won’t play.
“You never rule out a guy like T.J. Watt, it does seem unlikely that’s he’s going to be available on Monday night,” said Pelissero.
Watt has been on the injury report for the Steelers a few times this season. However, the edge rusher hasn’t missed a game in 2025. In fact, Watt hasn’t sat out a game since dealing with a torn pectoral muscle during the first half of 2022.
In 13 contests, he has seven sacks and 18 quarterback hits. Watt also has 10 tackles for loss, seven pass defenses, three forced fumbles and an interception during 2025.
The edge rusher missed a Steelers playoff game a couple years ago. But he’s played in 56 consecutive regular season contests.
Mixed Reports on Edge Rusher’s Lung Injury
ESPN’s Adam Schefter hasn’t had a Friday update on the Steelers All-Pro edge rusher. But Thursday, Schefter’s report mirrored Pelissero’s when he discussed Watt’s Week 15 availability.
“It doesn’t look like T.J. Watt would be able to make it back this week to play on Monday night,” said Schefter on ESPN’s “NFL Live”, via The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s Tim Benz.
The rest of Schefter’s update, though, greatly differed from Pelissero’s.
Schefter added it was “fair to assume” that Watt’s lung “got at least semi-punctured” before he went to the hospital. Pelissero said nothing about any kind of puncture in his report and made clear Friday that Watt was experiencing discomfort before receiving any treatment from the Steelers.
These details are important because they will indicate if the team’s medical staff made an error that led to the edge rusher’s hospitalization.
In 2020, the Los Angeles Chargers team doctor accidentally punctured Tyrod Taylor’s lung while injecting the quarterback with a painkiller before a game. Since Watt’s hospitalization, social media users have speculated this may have happened with the Steelers medical staff this week.
Reporters and insiders have yet to confirm a medical mistake led to Watt’s hospitalization. To discover whether or not that was the case, it would be helpful if NFL insiders don’t use assumptions and/or improper medical terminology.
But as far as Watt’s long-term health is concerned, Pelissero reported the edge rusher will have no long-term lung issues.
“This is not a major issue,” Pelissero said. “Easy for me to say. It’s not my lung. But not any type of major or long-term issue for T.J. Watt. The issue has been fixed.
“What he needs now is rest.”
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