Pittsburgh Steelers star T.J. Watt has undergone surgery to repair and stabilise a partially collapsed lung following a dry needling treatment at the team’s facility, according to his brother, J.J. Watt.
The health scare was first disclosed after the Steelers confirmed that the defensive standout had been admitted to hospital. Watt later shared the update on social media, reassuring fans that he was receiving medical care. Although no official recovery timeline has been announced, he is expected to be discharged from hospital on Friday.
“He and his family are very appreciative of everyone’s kind words and well wishes,” J.J. Watt said.
NFL insider Ian Rapoport explained that dry needling is a common treatment used across the league to relieve muscle soreness and is generally considered safe. However, in this instance, the procedure reportedly led to severe complications, leaving Watt in intense discomfort and prompting doctors to send him to hospital for emergency treatment.
The incident has drawn comparisons to a similar medical scare involving current New York Jets quarterback Tyrod Taylor in 2020, when he was with the Los Angeles Chargers. Ahead of a game against the Kansas City Chiefs, a doctor accidentally punctured Taylor’s lung while administering a pain relieving injection for cracked ribs.
Taylor later filed a lawsuit against the doctor, alleging medical malpractice and seeking at least $5 million in damages.
T.J. Watt has not personally commented on the incident, but it is widely expected that he will miss Monday night’s game against the Miami Dolphins. After that matchup, the Steelers have three regular season games remaining, with the possibility of additional appearances should the team qualify for the playoffs.
Fans and teammates have since flooded social media with messages wishing the All Pro pass rusher a swift recovery.
