When is T.J. Watt Coming Back?

T.J. Watt returned to practice with the Pittsburgh Steelers this week, but when we will first see the field for meaningful game action?

When T.J. Watt went down with an injury in Week 1 against the Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers fans had a right to be worried. Since the season opener, Watt has missed each of the past six games, and the team has gone just 1-5 in his absence.

Pittsburgh’s career record without the reigning Defensive Player of the Year is even worse, as the Steelers have won just 1 of 10 games when Watt hasn’t seen the field since entering the league in 2017 — this isn’t even counting the team’s losses when he was forced to leave the contest early multiple times during the 2021 season.

It’s clear that he’s his presence is of the utmost importance. Fortunately, we might not have to see him on the sidelines much longer. After landing on IR with a pectoral injury early in the season as well as undergoing minor knee surgery, Watt returned to practice this week, and he doesn’t seem to be hampered by his injuries. In fact, it’s possible that he could make his return sooner than expected.

Latest Injury Update for T.J. Watt

The latest injury news regarding T.J. Watt is extremely encouraging. Not only did Watt return to practice with his team this week, but he even left the door open for making a possible return to the field this Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles, Chris Adamski of TribLIVE reports.

Watt’s statements certainly don’t make him a lock to suit up this week, but they are encouraging. While the Steelers could certainly use his services with their backs against the wall as they look to avoid a dreaded 2-6 record, Mike Tomlin and the coaching staff knows how important his health and longevity are to this team in the future. However, if he’s cleared to go, he will be out there — at least in limited fashion.

At the very least, it seems incredibly likely that Watt is going to make a full return following the Week 9 bye, barring any setbacks. Whether or not the Steelers will still realistically be in the running for a playoff spot at that time will be the biggest question. It starts with a must-win game over a great Eagles team this Sunday.