Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt. Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

T.J. Watt sends encouraging tweet following pec injury

By Adam Gretz | Last updated 9/13/22

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin would not make any commitments on the status of outside linebacker and reigning Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt on Tuesday, only saying he will definitely miss Sunday's Week 2 game against the New England Patriots.

Despite that, he said the team was encouraged by the news on Watt and that things were in a much better place than they were immediately after Sunday's Week 1 win against the Cincinnati Bengals.

The optimism seems to be for good reason.

Just a couple of hours after Tomlin's press conference, Watt sent a rare tweet that is pretty self explanatory.

pic.twitter.com/xSMGsjB55X
— TJ Watt (@_TJWatt) September 13, 2022

Not long after Watt's tweet, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that even though Watt suffered a tear of his pectoral muscle, he did not tear the tendon. That means he will not need surgery and will be able to return after rehabbing, which could happen in around six weeks.

#Steelers LB TJ Watt suffered a torn pec muscle, but did not tear the tendon. That’s why, as he says, he’ll be back. It’s about six weeks of rehab, then Watt could be able to return — with no surgery. https://t.co/PJtnwu0bTS
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 13, 2022

That would be the best possible news for the Steelers and Watt, given that there was initially fear he would need surgery and could potentially miss the remainder of the season. Watt is the Steelers' best player and completely transforms their defense when he is on the field.

That timeline could put his return sometime around the end of October. The Steelers' opponents over the next six weeks are the New England Patriots (home), Cleveland Browns (away), New York Jets (home), Buffalo Bills (away), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (home), and Miami Dolphins (away).

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