SI

J.J. Watt Provides Update on Brother T.J. Watt After Hospitalization

According to J.J. Watt, his brother T.J. will be released from the hospital on Friday.

Tom Dierberger

T.J. Watt has logged 53 tackles and seven sacks in 13 games this season.
T.J. Watt has logged 53 tackles and seven sacks in 13 games this season. / Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
In this story:

J.J. Watt shared an update Friday on his brother T.J. Watt, who was taken to a local hospital Thursday after experiencing discomfort in his lungs at the Steelers’ facility.

“Yesterday T.J. had successful surgery to stabilize and repair a partially collapsed lung suffered Wednesday after a dry needling treatment session at the facility,” J.J. Watt wrote on Friday. “Recovery timeline is still TBD, but all went well and he is being released from the hospital today.

“He and his family are very appreciative of everyone’s kind words and well wishes.”

As Watt mentioned, T.J.’s recovery timeline is not yet known. On Thursday, the Steelers issued a statement saying Watt’s status for Pittsburgh’s Monday Night Football matchup against the Dolphins is “in question.” ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Friday that it is “unlikely” Watt plays in Week 15.

Watt isn’t the first player to sustain a lung-related issue at a team facility in recent years. Back in 2020, then-Chargers quarterback Tyrod Taylor suffered a punctured lung when a team doctor was trying to administer a pain-killing injection to his cracked ribs. Taylor suffered the cracked ribs in Week 1 of the 2020 season and sustained the punctured lung before Week 2.

Taylor missed about one month with the injury before being medically cleared in October, although he played just one total snap the rest of the season because Justin Herbert had taken over as the Chargers’ starting quarterback.

The Steelers, in first place by a game in the AFC North with a 7–6 record, will close out the 2025 regular season with matchups against the Dolphins, Lions, Browns and Ravens.

More NFL on Sports Illustrated

FREE NEWSLETTER. SI BTN Newsletter. Start off your day with SI:CYMI. dark

feed

Published |Modified
Tom Dierberger
TOM DIERBERGER

Tom Dierberger is a staff writer and editor on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. He joined SI in November 2023 after stints at FOX Sports, Bally Sports and NBC Sports. Dierberger has a bachelor's in communication from St. John's University. In his spare time, he can be seen throwing out his arm while playing fetch with his dog, Walter B. Boy.

Home/NFL