Steelers receive good news on potential T.J. Watt return this season

Panic has begun to set in following the loss of T.J. Watt, who recently underwent surgery to repair a partially collapsed lung following a dry needling mishap, but one insider has provided a silver lining through these troubling times for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

After Watt’s surgery, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport provided a much-needed update on the veteran Steeler, including whether or not Watt would return during the 2025 regular season.

“My understanding is [Watt] is expected to play again this season,” Rapoport said. “We heard from Mike Tomlin and some other Steelers players who obviously send their best wishes to T.J. Watt. You hope he is back sooner rather than later.”

#Steelers star TJ Watt is expected to play again this season following surgery on his partially collapsed lung after a dry needling treatment, sources say.

Sometimes this heals on its own. This didn’t, so surgery was necessary. A scary 24 hours. But full recovery expected. pic.twitter.com/QY15gzmJIk

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 12, 2025

With Watt ruled out in Week 15, Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig will be the Steelers’ starting edge rusher tandem and could see more starting opportunities together as the veteran defender recovers from his lung surgery.

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This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers’ T.J. Watt expected to return this season after lung surgery

Source: Sports Yahoo