The Pittsburgh Steelers have found themselves at the center of a controversial situation involving star wide receiver DK Metcalf, who was suspended for the team’s final two regular-season games after confronting a fan during the Steelers’ 29-24 win over the Detroit Lions. On Wednesday, the team got some good news in the wake of this situation involving superstar linebacker T.J. Watt and his injury status.
Watt has missed each of Pittsburgh’s past two games after suffering a lung injury ahead of its Week 15 action. Given the serious nature of the injury, the Steelers are playing things safe with Watt as he attempts to work his way back onto the field, but he recently took a major step towards returning to action in Week 17.
T.J. Watt Returns to Practice for Steelers on Wednesday
Pittsburgh has turned its season around over the past weeks, as it went from being on the ropes in the AFC North division to completely taking charge of things. Wins over the Baltimore Ravens, Miami Dolphins, and Lions have helped the Steelers reemerge as one of the top teams in the league, and making that stretch even more impressive has been the fact that the team has done it without one of its best players in Watt.
The superstar linebacker is turning in another dominant season, as he’s racked up 53 tackles, seven sacks, one interception, three fumbles forced, and seven pass deflections in 13 games of action. In the wake of his lung injury, though, the team openly wondered whether or not he would be able to return to the field this season.
Pittsburgh’s hopes of making a deep playoff run don’t exactly rest entirely on Watt’s shoulders, but in order for the team to make some serious noise, it is going to need him on the field. While his status for Week 17 still appears to be up in the air, Watt took a big step towards returning from his scary injury, as he practiced in a limited capacity on Wednesday.
“Steelers LB T.J. Watt (lung) returned to practice today and was officially listed as a limited participant,” Tom Pelissero of NFL Network shared in a post on X.
Steelers Aiming to Wrap Up AFC North Division in Week 17
GettyThe Steelers are uncertain when T.J. Watt will be able to return from his lung injury
Regardless of Watt’s Week 17 status, the goal remains the same for the Steelers. If they win one of their final two games, they will wrap up the division and secure their spot in the postseason. They have managed to do so over the past two weeks without Watt, and while the team would obviously rather have him on the field than on the sidelines, head coach Mike Tomlin will likely prepare his team as if Watt will be unavailable.
Helping Pittsburgh’s case is the fact that it will be taking on the lowly Cleveland Browns on Sunday. The Browns are going to be looking to play spoiler in this one, but the Steelers are going to be heavily favored to win this game one way or another. While this is a step in the right direction for Watt, his status will still be worth monitoring throughout the week.
T.J. Watt Takes Major Step Towards Week 17 Injury Return for Steelers