Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt got some great news Tuesday afternoon — he won’t need surgery on his torn pectoral, according to a report by ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
According to the report, Watt is now expected to miss about six weeks. That’s a big chunk of games, but initial fears were far direr. When the defensive star exited Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals, he walked off the field appearing to say “I tore my pec,” and immediately speculation ran rampant he’d need season-ending surgery for the injury.
Looks like TJ says "I tore my pec" at the end but pic.twitter.com/VIp57YhEmK
— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) September 11, 2022
However, a report from the Steelers’ camp Sunday night was more favorable, suggesting Watt might be able to return as soon as late October. Now, that appears to be the case after Watt underwent further evaluation Tuesday.
Doctors determined this afternoon that Steelers’ LB T.J. Watt does not surgery on his torn pectoral and he now is expected to miss about six weeks, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 13, 2022
Watt celebrated the good news with a meme featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Terminator vowing, “I’ll be back.”
— TJ Watt (@_TJWatt) September 13, 2022
Watt played almost like a Terminator in the Steelers’ 23-20 road win against the Bengals Sunday, with six tackles (including three for a loss), a sack, and two passes defended.
It’s the kind of season debut you’d expect from one of the NFL’s brightest defensive stars. Watt registered 22.5 quarterback sacks last season, tying the NFL record held by New York Giants Hall of Famer Michael Strahan.
