T.J.

Watt

According to Watt, the Steelers’ pass-rusher suffered a collapsed lung during a “dry needling treatment session at the facility.” Watt’s recovery time is unknown, but it’s safe to assume he will miss the Week 15 game against the Dolphins. Watt is expected to return at some point this season.

Watt was hospitalized with a lung issue on Wednesday and was unsurprisingly listed as a DNP on Thursday. He’ll have some extra time to get ready ahead of Monday night’s matchup against the Dolphins, but given the nature of the injury, this may not be something Watt can “tough it out” to play through. With two days of practice left to go, we’ll continue to monitor his status throughout the week, but the Steelers could be down their top defensive player in a pivotal Week 15 matchup.

This news comes directly from the team. Steelers spokesman Burt Lauden added that Watt will not practice on Thursday and his status for Monday’s game is in question. Head coach Mike Tomlin will provide more updates at the appropriate time. It’s a scary update for one of the best defenders in the league. The hope will be that this is a short-term issue, but it’s too early to say anything definitively. We don’t expect Watt to suit up versus the Dolphins on Monday.

Steelers LB Patrick Queen (glute) will also play. Watt took the day off on Wednesday before practicing fully thereafter. Queen did the same to begin the week but only managed limited sessions on Thursday and Friday. Watt has generated 39 quarterback pressures and eight sacks, while Queen has racked up 58 tackles. Having both players active is helpful.

Patrick Queen (glute) was able to get in a limited session. It sounds like things are moving in the right direction for Pittsburgh’s front seven ahead of Sunday’s must-win showdown with the Ravens. Watt could be cleared off the injury report entirely tomorrow, while Queen probably has a slim chance of that and should at least make the questionable line.

Watt limped off the field in the fourth quarter of the Steelers’ Week 13 loss to the Bills. He was checked out by trainers and did not return. A DNP today puts him at risk of missing Week 14. Patrick Queen, who suffered a glute injury versus Buffalo, was also held out of Wednesday’s practice. It looks like a Pittsburgh defense that was already underperforming this year could be down multiple starters versus the Ravens this week.

The extension makes Watt the highest-paid non-QB in NFL history. At least until we get a Micah Parsons extension, anyway. No player has recorded more sacks over the last five seasons Watt, but Steelers beats believe Watt lost a step last year. Watt receives $108 million fully guaranteed, and the deal averages $41 million per year. Steelers players report to camp July 23 and this is one thing they won’t have to worry about going forward.

Pelissero recently reported that the Steelers do not plan to trade Watt, and Watt’s record-setting goals are well known, so the most recent report makes sense. The team will do its best to ensure team-friendly outs exist later in the deal, but for now, Watt appears to be on track for a hefty payday sometime before September 7. Pelissero states succinctly, Watt’s expected extension “is going to be north of Myles Garrett—it is going to be upwards of $40 million per year.”

“This isn’t going to be as easy as the last contract with T.J., where he was in his prime ... they saw a little bit of a decline last year,” Dulac believes. Ja’Marr Chase currently holds the record in average per year at $40.25 million for a non-quarterback, though Myles Garrett’s $88.8 million in guarantees dwarfs it. It’s unclear which dollar figure Watt is coming after, but what is clear is that this could drag on well into training camp and perhaps, as Dulac suggests, right up to the beginning of the regular season. With Trey Hendrickson and Micah Parsons also vying to be in the highest-paid non-quarterback space, we have plenty of contract drama ahead of us on the edge during training camp and the preseason.

According to Pelissero, the team’s focus remains on extending Watt’s deal, which is set to expire at the end of this season. The veteran pass rusher has been working toward a new deal all offseason, and skipped mandatory minicamp while awaiting a new deal. Watt’s situation recently came back into the light when it was announced the Steelers would be giving Jalen Ramsey a $1.5 million raise in 2025 after acquiring him from the Dolphins, but it sounds like the hope is Watt and the Steelers will eventually figure things out.