{"id":131046,"date":"2025-12-15T16:35:52","date_gmt":"2025-12-15T16:35:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=131046"},"modified":"2025-12-15T16:35:52","modified_gmt":"2025-12-15T16:35:52","slug":"t-j-watt-ruled-out-for-mnf-after-scary-lung-injury-steelers-hopeful-for-week-16-return-amidst-teams-critical-playoff-stretch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=131046","title":{"rendered":"“T.J. WATT RULED OUT FOR MNF AFTER SCARY LUNG INJURY: STEELERS ‘HOPEFUL’ FOR WEEK 16 RETURN AMIDST TEAM’S CRITICAL PLAYOFF STRETCH.”"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The\u00a0Pittsburgh Steelers\u00a0did well to take control of the AFC North division in Week 14, but it didn\u2019t take long for the wind to be taken out of the team\u2019s sails. That\u2019s because\u00a0star pass rusher T.J. Watt\u00a0suffered a\u00a0scary lung injury\u00a0at the team\u2019s facility last week that resulted in him being hospitalized ahead of the team\u2019s Week 15 action.<\/p>\n
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Watt was unsurprisingly ruled out for Pittsburgh\u2019s upcoming clash against the\u00a0Miami Dolphins, but the team is hopeful that he will be able to return at some point later this season. In typical Watt fashion, it seems like he could be back on the field much sooner than expected, as he received a major injury update shortly after being ruled out for the team\u2019s upcoming game.<\/p>\n

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Steelers Hoping T.J. Watt Can Return to Action in Week 16<\/p>\n

Ian Rapoport<\/p>\n

@RapSheet<\/p>\n

\u00b7<\/p>\n

Follow<\/p>\n

The Insiders on @NFLGameDay Morning with @MikeGarafolo and @TomPelissero: Inside Philip Rivers\u2019 comeback, as he grabbed cleats out of the trophy case; The latest on De\u2019Von Achane and #Steelers edge TJ Watt\u2019s lung; #Eagles star Lane Johnson is returning sooner, rather than later.<\/p>\n

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10:39 am \u00b7 14 Dec 2025<\/p>\n

144Reply<\/p>\n

The Steelers seemed to be falling apart heading into Week 14, but they got their act together at the perfect time and managed to pull out a 27-22 victory over the\u00a0Ravens\u00a0to retake the top spot in the AFC North for the time being. They still have a lot of work left to do, though, as Baltimore is not going to go down without a fight in this divisional battle.<\/p>\n

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Per usual, Watt seemed set to play a big role for the team as it enters its most pivotal stretch of the season. In 13 games this season, Watt has been his typical dominant self, as he\u2019s racked up 53 tackles, seven sacks, one interception, seven pass deflections, and three fumbles forced. Simply put, he\u2019s remained a one-man wrecking crew up front for Pittsburgh.<\/p>\n

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Everything was thrown up in the air for Watt when the team announced he had been hospitalized due to a lung injury. And while he is going to miss the team\u2019s upcoming game in Week 15, it sounds like it could end up being the only game he does not suit up in, as the Steelers are reportedly\u00a0hopeful<\/a>\u00a0Watt will be able to play in Week 16.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe turnaround was just too quick for Watt to play this week; he needed to rest. But the Steelers are hopeful that Watt could potentially miss only one game. He could be back next Sunday against the Lions,\u201d Tom Pelissero said on \u201cThe Insiders.\u201d<\/p>\n

Steelers Looking to Earn Another Big Win in Week 15<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\"Mike <\/p>\n

Getty<\/p>\n

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin.<\/p>\n

Being without Watt, even if only for one game, presents major problems for the Steelers on the defensive side of the ball, so if he could return in Week 16, that would be huge for Pittsburgh. Every game is going to be important for this team from here on out, so the team needs to do whatever it can to win as much as possible.<\/p>\n

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Before they can begin to worry about Watt\u2019s Week 16 status, the Steelers need to get through their upcoming matchup against the Miami Dolphins. While it\u2019s been a rough season as a whole for the Dolphins, they are on a four-game win streak, so they can\u2019t be completely ignored. With this game set for Monday Night Football, kickoff is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. ET.<\/p>\n

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