The Pittsburgh Steelers star TJ Watt is now recovering after a startling medical episode that began with a routine workout and ended with a hospital procedure to repair a small hole in his lung, according to a detailed new report from a top NFL insider.
The alarming situation that sent waves of fear through the Steelers organization and its fanbase over the past two days was fully outlined by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero on Good Morning Football Thursday morning. His report provides the first comprehensive timeline of how the league’s reigning Defensive Player of the Year went from an offseason lift to a hospital bed.
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According to Pelissero, the chain of events began on Wednesday morning, a scheduled day off for players. Watt arrived at the team facility for a voluntary workout. During the session, he experienced significant discomfort, but in a display of his trademark toughness, he completed his entire lift.
“He actually went through his lift, did his workout, then went for his normal treatment and was still having pain,” Pelissero said. “And so they decided to get him checked out.”
Initial examinations focused on potential collarbone or rib injuries. While standard X-rays returned negative, more advanced imaging revealed the true culprit. A small pneumothorax or a tiny hole in the lung causes air to leak into the chest cavity and leads to breathing difficulties.
“The tests showed a small issue, like a tiny hole in his lung, that then needed to be sent to the hospital and fixed,” Pelissero explained.
The procedure to stabilize the lung was successful, and the long-term prognosis is positive. “This is not a major issue, not any type of major or long-term issue for TJ Watt. The issue has been fixed,” Pelissero stated.
However, the immediate path forward presents a major conflict for one of the NFL’s most relentless competitors. The prescribed treatment is simple yet daunting for Watts’ rest.
“What he needs now is rest,” Pelissero emphasized. “That’s where you never rule out a guy like TJ Watt, it does seem unlikely that he’s going to be available on Monday night.”
This update throws the Steelers’ prime time matchup into uncertainty. Watt’s presence is the engine of Pittsburgh’s defense, and his potential absence would be a monumental blow. The team now faces the dual challenge of managing the recovery of their best player while preparing a game plan that may not include him.
While the health scare appears to be resolved, the battle against the clock has just begun. For a warrior like TJ Watt, the hardest part won’t be the recovery from the procedure. But it will be the forced patience of sitting still.
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