T.J. Watt calls his dry needling mishap a “fluke” and is ready to play Sunday night against the Ravens — potentially sealing the AFC North title for the Steelers while rewriting his own playoff legacy.
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense has been anchored by T.J. Watt’s ferocity for nearly a decade — but his latest injury scare might be the most bizarre yet. The 31-year-old Pro Bowler missed three consecutive games after a dry needling treatment went wrong, forcing emergency surgery to repair a partially collapsed lung. Now, he’s calling it a “fluke” and is hopeful to return Sunday night against the Baltimore Ravens — a game that could determine whether Pittsburgh wins its division for the first time since 2020.
Watt underwent the treatment at the team’s facility on December 10, administered by a member of the Steelers’ athletic staff. He experienced immediate discomfort and was taken to the hospital, where doctors told him surgery was necessary. “Obviously very scary,” Watt said. “Just a significant amount of pain at the same time you’re going to work, and then all of a sudden you need surgery. It sucks. Just a lot of unknown.”
While many NFL players have embraced dry needling — a therapy involving needles inserted under the skin to relieve muscle tension — Watt didn’t rule out using it again in the future. But for now, he’s focused entirely on returning to action. “I have no limitations,” he said after Friday’s practice. “I tried to simulate as much as I could with shoulder pads and stuff like that. But you can only simulate so much. So I feel really good right now. Hopefully that’s the case on Sunday as well.”
His absence coincided with a remarkable turnaround for Pittsburgh. The Steelers went 2-1 during Watt’s absence — doubling their win total without him over the first eight seasons of his career. That stretch included victories over elite teams like the Bengals and Browns, proving the unit can thrive even without its defensive cornerstone.
But this isn’t just about stats or records — it’s about playoff relevance. Watt has appeared in five postseasons since 2017, yet the Steelers have never advanced past the Wild Card round. “Everyone knows how important these games are,” he said. “Everybody knows this is what you train all offseason, your whole career for — games like this.”
Watt’s sack total this season — seven — marks his lowest output since his rookie year. While some fans may lament his decline, teammates see his value differently. Cam Heyward, Watt’s longtime teammate, emphasized the need for Watt to do “T.J. Watt” things against Baltimore — especially since Watt already holds 17 of his 115 career sacks against the Ravens.
“It’s not about the numbers,” Watt said. “It’s about impact. It’s about being able to stop the run, disrupt the pass, and make plays when it matters most.”
For Pittsburgh, this game represents more than just divisional bragging rights. A win would give them home-field advantage in the playoffs — something they haven’t had since 2020. And with Watt back in the lineup, they’ll have their most complete defensive unit in years.
Watt declined to discuss specifics about his physical condition, instead focusing on what he can control: performance. “I’m glad to have the doctors that we had, the surgeon that I had,” he said. “(And) to be able to be here playing football games this weekend.”
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