The Pittsburgh Steelers keep getting hit with health scares they didn't see coming. Just days after wide receiver DK Metcalf was forced to spend the night in a Baltimore hospital for stomach pain, star edge rusher T.J. Watt has been hospitalized with a lung issue just days before the Steelers are set to host the Miami Dolphins for Monday Night Football.
The statement from team spokesperson Burt Lauten confirms that Watt will miss Thursday's practice and that his status for MNF is in question.
"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. He will not be at practice on Thursday, and his status for Monday night's game vs. Miami is in question.
Coach Tomlin will provide more updates at the appropriate time."
Our first thoughts go out to Watt and his family, hoping that this isn't anything serious. Watt's hospitalization could have a ripple effect on Pittsburgh's game plan on Monday Night Football.
The Pittsburgh Steelers could be without T.J. Watt for MNF against the Miami Dolphins
Mike Tomlin and the Steelers are looking to maintain their divisional lead over the Baltimore Ravens. To ensure this happens, they can ill-afford to drop a home game against the Dolphins on Monday Night Football, a setting in which this team has been so good over the years.
While T.J. Watt's 2025 performance has been underwhelming overall, he's still a player this team counts on.
In the Steelers' Week 14 win against the Ravens, Watt played 70 of the team's 80 total defensive snaps while recording four pressures and four run stops. If he's not able to go in this primetime contest, Pittsburgh's depth at edge rusher suddenly looks thin.
Fans have been screaming for 2023 fourth-round pick Nick Herbig to see more snaps all season, but this isn't what we had in mind. Deploying a healthy rotation between Watt, Herbig, and Alex Highsmith is the way to go, but this might not be possible in Week 15 if Watt can't suit up.
Meanwhile, the Dolphins have a pair of threatening skill players in wide receiver Jaylen Waddle and running back Devon Achane. Both are threats to score from virtually anywhere on the field, thanks to their speed and explosion.
We all hope that T.J. Watt makes a full recovery as soon as possible from whatever lung ailment he's dealing with. That's most important. But Steelers fans would love to have him back in time for this huge Monday Night Football game against Miami.