Pittsburgh Steelers Pass Rusher TJ Watt Undergoes Emergency Surgery After Dry-Needling Session
TJ Watt, a seven-time Pro Bowler and the 2021 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, underwent emergency surgery to repair a partially collapsed lung after experiencing severe discomfort during a dry-needling session. The incident occurred at the Steelers' team facility on Wednesday.
The 30-year-old pass rusher had been feeling unwell despite being treated by medical staff, prompting an emergency hospitalization. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said Watt was at home, resting, but would be unavailable for Sunday's game against Miami due to his condition.
While Watt's exact injuries are not clear, the team has confirmed that he underwent surgery to repair a partially collapsed lung. Tomlin acknowledged that he had "no idea" about the details of Watt's dry-needling session, but expressed support for his teammate despite being unaware of the specifics.
Watt's absence is significant, as the Steelers have struggled without him in the past. In 2022, they went 1-6 while Watt recovered from a pectoral injury. However, the team remains competitive with a one-game lead over Baltimore Ravens for the AFC North title with four weeks remaining.
In Watt's place against Miami on Sunday, Nick Herbig will start at defensive end. Herbig has impressed this season, posting six sacks and averaging an impressive 6.5 per game. Despite Watt's injury, Steelers fans are hopeful that their star pass rusher will return to action soon.
The incident highlights the risks associated with dry-needling, a form of alternative medicine used to treat pain. While some athletes have reported benefits from the treatment, others have experienced serious complications, including lung damage and other injuries.
For now, Watt's recovery is the top priority for the Steelers. The team will be closely monitoring his progress in the coming weeks, and fans can only hope that their star pass rusher returns to action soon.
TJ Watt, a seven-time Pro Bowler and the 2021 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, underwent emergency surgery to repair a partially collapsed lung after experiencing severe discomfort during a dry-needling session. The incident occurred at the Steelers' team facility on Wednesday.
The 30-year-old pass rusher had been feeling unwell despite being treated by medical staff, prompting an emergency hospitalization. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said Watt was at home, resting, but would be unavailable for Sunday's game against Miami due to his condition.
While Watt's exact injuries are not clear, the team has confirmed that he underwent surgery to repair a partially collapsed lung. Tomlin acknowledged that he had "no idea" about the details of Watt's dry-needling session, but expressed support for his teammate despite being unaware of the specifics.
Watt's absence is significant, as the Steelers have struggled without him in the past. In 2022, they went 1-6 while Watt recovered from a pectoral injury. However, the team remains competitive with a one-game lead over Baltimore Ravens for the AFC North title with four weeks remaining.
In Watt's place against Miami on Sunday, Nick Herbig will start at defensive end. Herbig has impressed this season, posting six sacks and averaging an impressive 6.5 per game. Despite Watt's injury, Steelers fans are hopeful that their star pass rusher will return to action soon.
The incident highlights the risks associated with dry-needling, a form of alternative medicine used to treat pain. While some athletes have reported benefits from the treatment, others have experienced serious complications, including lung damage and other injuries.
For now, Watt's recovery is the top priority for the Steelers. The team will be closely monitoring his progress in the coming weeks, and fans can only hope that their star pass rusher returns to action soon.
so many people talkin bout TJ Watt gettin emergency surgery after dry-needlin session 
and it's like watteva da problem was 
i mean, we all know he's a beast on da field 
but c'mon people, dry-needlin ain't no joke! it's some alternative medicine that can give u pain relief or hurt u real bad 
i don't wanna hear bout no one else gettin hurt 4 this stuff 
and yeah, Steelers fans might be hopin he'll bounce back soon 
but we gotta take care of our athletes, y'know? 
what a crazy turn of events for TJ Watt!!! I feel bad for him, emergency surgery is never a good thing 
. The risks associated with dry-needling are already known, so it's a bit surprising this happened to someone as healthy and strong as Watt 
. Hopefully, he'll be back on the field soon and that Nick Herbig can fill in for him 
. Dry-needling is like a Trojan horse, people think it's gonna help with pain management but really it's all about selling more meds and taking control of our bodies. And now TJ Watt, one of the best players in the game, is paying the price 
. What if this was an accident? Was it really just a "partially collapsed lung" or is there something fishy going on? 
Oh man, this is not what we need right now! TJ Watt's injury is super worrying... I mean, I'm sure he'll bounce back from this, but for now, it's tough on the team and fans 
At least they caught it early, so fingers crossed everything goes smoothly with his surgery 
! Hopefully, Watt'll be back to his pass-rushing self in no time