He’s the kind of player who makes offensive coordinators lose sleep. You know the vibe. When number 90 is on the field, the entire energy of the Pittsburgh Steelers changes. But lately, the big question on every fan's mind has been simple: is TJ Watt injured? If you’ve been following the rollercoaster end to the 2025 season, you know it hasn't been a smooth ride for the perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate.
Honestly, the situation was pretty scary for a minute there. We aren't talking about a typical football injury like a pulled hamstring or a sprained ankle. It was way more "fluke" than that. Basically, a routine medical procedure went sideways and left the Steelers' best player in a hospital bed while the team was fighting for its playoff life.
The Collapsed Lung Mystery Explained
So, what actually happened? Back in early December 2025, Watt was undergoing a "dry needling" session at the team facility. It’s a super common treatment athletes use to loosen up tight muscles. But this time, something went wrong. A needle reportedly caused a partially collapsed lung (pneumothorax).
Imagine being one of the toughest guys on the planet and getting sidelined by a needle. It sounds like a bad movie plot. Watt ended up needing surgery on December 10, 2025, to fix the issue. He missed three straight games—massive matchups against the Dolphins, Bengals, and Browns.
For a team that historically struggles whenever Watt isn't rushing the passer, those three weeks felt like an eternity.
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The Road Back to the Field
Usually, when you hear "lung surgery," you don't expect to see a guy back on the field in less than a month. But TJ Watt isn't exactly a normal human being. By the time the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Baltimore Ravens rolled around on January 4, 2026, he was back.
And he didn't just "show up." He played 83% of the defensive snaps.
He even snagged an interception off Lamar Jackson.
"I feel great," Watt told reporters after that Ravens game. "Really confident with how last week went. Body feels really good."
If you were worried about his conditioning, his defensive coordinator Teryl Austin basically laughed it off. He mentioned that Watt is always in such insane shape that the "setback" didn't really drain his strength.
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Is TJ Watt Injured Right Now?
As of today, January 13, 2026, the short answer is: No, TJ Watt is not currently on the injury report. He played in the Steelers' Wild Card playoff game against the Houston Texans just yesterday. Even though the Steelers ended up with another early postseason exit—which clearly has Watt frustrated—he was physically out there doing his thing. He even recovered a fumble stripped by Keeanu Benton.
Here’s a quick breakdown of his health status as we head into the 2026 offseason:
- Lung Status: Fully recovered. He cleared all medical protocols before the January 4th game.
- Recent Activity: Logged full starts in the final regular-season game and the Wild Card round.
- Official Designation: Healthy.
It’s worth noting that while he's "healthy" in the medical sense, the wear and tear of a 14-game season (plus the surgery) definitely took a toll. He finished the 2025 season with 7 sacks, which is a "down year" by his astronomical standards. But hey, when you miss nearly a month due to a collapsed lung, seven sacks is still pretty impressive.
Why Fans Are Still Asking
People keep searching for "is TJ Watt injured" because the Steelers' defense looked... well, mortal during the playoffs. When the team loses, people look for excuses. They wonder if the lung injury was still bothering him or if he lacked his usual "burst."
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The truth is probably a bit more nuanced. Lung surgery is a major deal. Even if the doctors clear you, your lung capacity and stamina might take a few weeks to truly return to 100%. He looked like himself in flashes, but the consistency we saw in his 19-sack 2023 campaign wasn't quite there in late 2025.
What to Expect for TJ Watt in 2026
The good news for Steelers Nation is that the contract situation is locked down. Watt signed a massive three-year, $123 million extension before the 2025 season. He isn't going anywhere.
With a full offseason to actually breathe (literally) and move past the dry-needling incident, he's expected to be the centerpiece of the defense again in 2026. He’s already expressed his frustration with the team's lack of playoff success, which usually means "Angry TJ" is coming to training camp. That’s bad news for the rest of the AFC North.
If you’re tracking his status for fantasy football or just general interest, keep an eye on the "dry needling" talk. Watt joked recently that he’s "gonna take a break" from that specific treatment for a while. Smart move.
Moving forward, here is how you can keep tabs on his health:
- Check the Official NFL Injury Report: These are released every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday during the season.
- Follow J.J. Watt on Social Media: Honestly, his older brother is often the first one to give a "he's doing great" update on shows like The Pat McAfee Show.
- Watch the Snap Counts: If Watt is playing over 80% of defensive snaps, he’s healthy. If that number dips into the 50-60% range, that’s when you should start worrying about a lingering issue.
The "scare" of late 2025 seems to be firmly in the rearview mirror. He’s healthy, he’s under contract, and he’s probably already in the gym getting ready to chase the sack record again next year.