Steelers reportedly will be 'very lucky' to get T.J. Watt back anytime soon

The NFL community was shocked to learn last week that Pittsburgh Steelers star pass-rusher T.J. Watt was dealing with a partially collapsed lung after he went through "a dry needling treatment session" at the team's facility. 

According to Steelers insider Mark Kaboly of "The Pat McAfee Show," it sounds like the club is preparing to pursue a division title without having Watt available. 

T.J. Watt not coming back anytime soon?

"I don't think it's gonna be anytime soon," Kaboly said about when Watt may return to action during a Wednesday appearance on Pittsburgh sports radio station 93.7 The Fan, per Alex Kozora of Steelers Depot. "I don't think it would make any sense to come back this week. Maybe not next week. I think if you get him for the playoffs, you'd consider yourself very lucky."

As noted by ESPN stats, Watt leads the Steelers for the season with seven sacks that he accumulated across 13 games. Of course, numbers only tell part of the story regarding what Watt would offer the club as an on-the-field leader during must-win contests. 

The 8-6 Steelers now know they will win the AFC North division title if they defeat the 7-7 Baltimore Ravens in the Week 18 matchup involving the rivals that will be held at Pittsburgh's Acrisure Stadium. Thus, some previously assumed that Watt would sit out for Pittsburgh's next two games. 

How long may T.J. Watt remain sidelined?

As Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio pointed out, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin hadn't shared any in-depth information regarding Watt's status as of early Wednesday afternoon. It may be a "no news is bad news" type of situation for Pittsburgh. 

"None of us know the details of exactly what he went through or what type of surgery he had," Kaboly added about Watt. "When somebody says surgery, lung partially collapsed, that's about a week, man? That's not two weeks. That's multiple weeks."

If nothing else, it seems unlikely Watt will travel with the Steelers for their game at the 8-6 Detroit Lions this coming Sunday. As of Wednesday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook had Pittsburgh as a seven-point underdog for that contest.