The Dolphins placed linebacker Caleb Johnson on injured reserve, the team announced Friday.
Johnson injured his shoulder in Sunday’s 34-10 win over the Jets.
He played 22 snaps in two games and totaled two tackles.
The Dolphins used Caleb Johnson’s roster spot to sign safety Isaiah Johnson from the practice squad. Isaiah Johnson, a college cornerback at Dartmouth and Syracuse, was converted to safety this season.
He has spent time on the team’s practice squad the past two seasons and has played in three games this season. Thus, he is out of game-day elevations.
The Dolphins also re-acquired tight end Hayden Rucci after his release from the Lions, signing him to the practice squad. The team waived Rucci on Nov. 29, and the Lions claimed him before waiving him this week.
Steelers Clips
Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt will miss Monday night’s game against the Dolphins.
Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin told reporters on Friday that Watt will not play in the Week 15 game. Tomlin also confirmed that Watt had a medical procedure.
“He’s been released from the hospital,” Tomlin said, via Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com. “He’s at home resting comfortably. And so that’s good news from a medical standpoint, but from a participation standpoint, he’ll be described as out this week for Monday night.”
Tomlin limited the characterization of Watt’s status to the next game only.
“I haven’t looked beyond Monday night,” Tomlin said. “I’m kind of one week at a time. I know he’s not participating this week.”
Tomlin otherwise had no details on the situation, and he deferred to the news from J.J. Watt, T.J.'s brother, that T.J. suffered a partially collapsed lung as a result of a dry needling treatment at the team’s facility.
Ultimately, Tomlin was pragmatic about the situation, as it relates to the level of concern he has for the apparent in-house snafu that will keep one of his best players off the field.
“It’s day-to-day life in this business at this level,” Tomlin said.
Is it, though? Injuries are normal product of practicing and playing football. This is a distinctly abnormal outcome to an apparently routine treatment procedure, with plenty of lingering questions as to how it happened and who’s to blame for it.
J.J. Watt provided an update on his brother’s condition on Friday afternoon.
Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt went to the hospital on Wednesday after experiencing discomfort and his brother said that he had surgery to stabilize and repair a partially collapsed lung. Watt experienced that discomfort after having a dry needling treatment at the team’s facility.
Watt’s surgery went well and he is being released from the hospital on Friday. A full recovery timeline remains to be determined and an earlier report on Friday indicated that he is not expected to play against the Dolphins on Monday night.
Dry needling is similar to acupuncture and is used to address muscular issues. The NFLPA said on Thursday that they have been in touch with Watt and his representatives about what occurred this week.
Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt missed practice on Thursday undergoing evaluation of his lung after experiencing discomfort on Wednesday and the team said that his status for Monday night’s game against the Dolphins is in question.
On Friday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reported that Watt is unlikely to play in that game. Watt has not missed a game since the 2022 season.
Pelissero also reported that doctors do not believe Watt is dealing with a major issue. Their examinations found a “tiny” hole in his lung and that the issue has been fixed, but that Watt needs to rest in order to return to full strength.
Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig would be the likely choices as the top edge rushers in Watt’s absence.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin was confident earlier this week about wide receiver DK Metcalf’s availability for Monday night’s game against the Dolphins and the team’s first practice report of the week gave no reason to feel otherwise.
Metcalf was a full participant in the session. Metcalf stayed overnight in Baltimore after experiencing stomach pains that started after he took a hit early in last Sunday’s win over the Ravens.
Linebacker Patrick Queen (hip), quarterback Aaron Rodgers (left wrist), safety Kyle Dugger (hand), defensive lineman Yahya Black (shoulder), and defensive tackle Keeanu Benton (ankle) were also full participants.
Linebacker Malik Harrison and tight end Darnell Washington were both limited as they work through the concussion protocol. Wide receiver Ben Skowronek (hand), cornerback James Pierre (calf), offensive lineman Andrus Peat (concussion), and edge rusher T.J. Watt (lung) did not practice. The Steelers announced earlier in the day that Watt has been hospitalized for evaluation of his issue.
The news out of Pittsburgh regarding linebacker T.J. Watt’s hospitalization with a lung issue has raised plenty of questions. At the appropriate time, the NFL Players Association may seek some answers.
For now, the NFLPA has acknowledged that it is aware of the situation and has been in touch with Watt and his representation.
It’s far too early to compare Watt’s health issue with past situations, including most notably the punctured lung that Chargers quarterback Tyrod Taylor suffered in 2020. He later sued the team’s doctor.
Litigation is, in theory, a possibility in this case, depending largely on the extent of the impairment and its impact on Watt’s ability to play.
Watt officially did not practice on Thursday due to the condition. The Steelers host the Dolphins on Monday night.
Even though the Steelers already defeated the Colts this year, there’s one implication of Philip Rivers’ return that makes Pittsburgh’s current quarterback smile.
“Well, I’m not the oldest guy in the league — love that,” Aaron Rodgers said Thursday, via Brooke Pryor of ESPN.
At 44, Rivers has two years on Rodgers, who turned 42 earlier this month.
“It’s pretty incredible, though,” Rodgers said of Rivers’ return to the Colts this week. “He’s been out for, I believe, four full seasons, plus this part of this season. I was laughing because a couple of my buddies hit me up asking what I would do in that situation, and I said without missing a beat, ‘I’m retired, I’m staying retired.’ So, big credit to Phil.”
Rodgers was drafted a year after Rivers in 2005. The two didn’t have many battles during their time with the Packers and Chargers, given that they played in different conferences. But Rodgers noted he’s long admired Rivers’ game from afar.
“I’ve been a fan of his forever,” Rodgers said. “I’ve known him a little bit over the years. I’ve just loved the way that he competes, plays. Again, not the most gifted player, but cerebral as all get out. Hilarious trash talker. I wish him nothing but the best. I’ve been a fan of his for a while, and I hope he goes out and it’s just like riding a bike and he can jump right back in the saddle — and I expect him to.”
Earlier on Thursday, the Steelers announced linebacker T.J. Watt had been hospitalized with a lung issue and his status for Monday’s game against the Dolphins is up in the air.
After Thursday’s practice, head coach Mike Tomlin addressed the situation.
“I’m a little bit cautious about what I say, because I am not a medical expert,” Tomlin said, via Teresa Varley of the team’s website. “But to make a long story short, he was experiencing some discomfort when he was at the facility yesterday. So, we took him to the docs and they’re going through some procedures. He stayed overnight in the hospital.
“He has a lung situation that’s being addressed. I think he has some testing and so forth ahead of him this afternoon, and that’s all I know at this juncture.”
Tomlin added that he communicated with Watt on Wednesday night, with Watt noting he was comfortable.
“[T]hat’s all I have really at this point,” Tomlin said. “His status for Monday night is really up in the air. I think what transpires this afternoon is going to provide more information for us. I just don’t have a lot as I stand here today.”
Tomlin said he didn’t know when Watt began feeling discomfort. The head coach also said he didn’t believe Watt was dealing with an injury during or after the game that would have put him on the injury report.
“I know he was in the cafeteria at one point and that’s kind of when I got wind of it,” Tomlin said.
Watt, 31, has not missed a game since 2022. The four-time first-team All-Pro has recorded 7.0 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, and 18 quarterback hits so far in 2025.
Dolphins running back De’Von Achane will start off the team’s practice week as a limited participant.
Achane suffered a rib injury in the first half of last Sunday’s win over the Jets and did not return to the game. Head coach Mike McDaniel said after the game that Achane was available to return if needed, but there was no need to break that glass in a 34-10 win.
On Thursday, McDaniel said that Achane will be a limited participant in practice and, via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, will see a “gradual increase in activity and physicality” leading into Monday night’s game against the Steelers.
McDaniel also said that it remains to be determined if Achane will wear a flak jacket to provide additional protection to his injury.
The Steelers announced on Thursday that linebacker T.J. Watt is not currently with the club due to a lung issue and has been hospitalized.
“T.J. Watt is currently in a local hospital for further medical evaluation of his lung after experiencing discomfort at the practice facility on Wednesday,” the Steelers’ statement from spokesman Burt Lauten reads. “He will not be at practice on Thursday, and his status for Monday night’s game vs. Miami is in question. Coach [Mike] Tomlin will provide more updates at the appropriate time.”
Watt, 31, has started all 13 games for Pittsburgh so far this season and has not missed a game since 2022.
He has recorded 7.0 sacks with 10 tackles for loss, 18 quarterback hits, three forced fumbles, seven passes defensed, and one interception so far in 2025.
