T.J. Watt returned from a partially collapsed lung about three weeks after surgery and helped the Pittsburgh Steelers seize the AFC North in Week 18, a 26-24 win over the Baltimore Ravens. The eight-time Pro Bowl edge rusher, 31, had not played since Week 14, when a dry-needling session led to a pneumothorax and emergency surgery in December 2025. His comeback capped a tense stretch run, though the Steelers lost the Wild Card round to the Houston Texans 30-6, ending the season.
T.J. Watt’s Collapsed Lung: What Actually Happened
Watt suffered the partially collapsed lung around December 10, 2025, after a dry-needling treatment session at the Steelers’ UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. He had surgery the next day to stabilize and repair the lung, and left the hospital on December 12. His brother, former defensive end J.J. Watt, announced the discharge. A pneumothorax happens when air collects in the space between the lung and the chest wall, which pushes on the lung and makes it collapse, according to the Mayo Clinic. Watt’s last game before the injury was Week 14 against the Ravens. The timing was brutal for Pittsburgh. Watt anchors the pass rush, and the defense lost its most disruptive player heading into a playoff push. Season-ending edge injuries can gut a contender, much as the multi-week ankle injury to Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy reshaped Minnesota’s plans. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers didn’t hide his relief when Watt returned to practice: “TJ is one of our leaders, so I love having him around. Not sure what his status is going to be, but just his presence is good for the team.” Watt finished 2025 with 7 sacks, 53 total tackles, 3 forced fumbles, and an interception across 13 games — numbers that underscore how much he impacts a game even when operating at less than full capacity. 
A Three-Week Return That Beat The Timeline
The recovery timeline alone is worth noting. A partially collapsed lung — known medically as a pneumothorax — typically requires weeks of rest and restricted physical activity, according to the Mayo Clinic, before a patient can return to any strenuous exertion, let alone NFL-level contact. Watt came back faster than almost anyone expected. He returned to practice as a limited participant around December 24, roughly two weeks after surgery. The Steelers ruled him out for Week 17 against the Browns on December 28. He was a full participant the following week with no injury designation. Watt then played Week 18 against the Ravens on Sunday night, about January 4, 2026, at Acrisure Stadium, only three weeks after his operation, per NFL.com and ESPN.
Steelers Seize The AFC North In Week 18
The stakes couldn’t be higher heading into the final weeks. Pittsburgh stumbled before it surged. In Week 17, the Steelers lost to the Browns 13-6 at Huntington Bank Field on December 28. Cleveland rookie Shedeur Sanders threw a touchdown to Harold Fannin, Andre Szmyt added field goals, and Chris Boswell’s two field goals were all Pittsburgh managed while it was held to about 291 total yards. The loss dropped the Steelers to 9-7. Week 18 flipped the story. Pittsburgh beat Baltimore 26-24 to win the division. Rodgers hit Calvin Austin on a 26-yard touchdown with about a minute left, though Boswell missed the extra point. Baltimore had one last chance. Lamar Jackson found Zay Flowers for 64 yards on the final drive, but Ravens kicker Tyler Loop missed the potential game-winning field goal. The win gave Pittsburgh its first AFC North title since 2020, the No. 4 seed and a third straight playoff berth.
Watt’s Eighth Straight Pro Bowl Selection
Even in a season that fell short of his own elite benchmarks, Watt earned his eighth consecutive Pro Bowl selection, announced December 23. Seven sacks in 13 games is a pace that most edge rushers would gladly accept over a full 17-game season. His ability to collapse the pocket, force fumbles at critical moments, and demand double-team blocking that frees up teammates makes his statistical line an incomplete picture of his actual value. The Pro Bowl nod confirmed what coaches and scouts already knew — Watt remains one of the most disruptive defensive players in the NFL, even when he’s not at 100 percent. He is locked into the first year of a three-year, $123 million extension, reported by NFL.com.
What’s Next After The Wild-Card Exit
The title run ended quickly. Houston controlled the Wild Card game and beat Pittsburgh 30-6, so the AFC North banner became the high point of the year rather than a springboard. Rodgers, in his 21st NFL season and his first with Pittsburgh, has decisions ahead about his future. Watt, by contrast, offers stability: he is healthy, still elite and locked into his extension. The offseason will test how Pittsburgh builds around that core, from the quarterback question to roster churn. For a full look at how teams reshaped their depth charts, see our breakdown of the 2026 NFL roster-cut deadline. For a team that has navigated injuries and uncertainty all season, getting their best player back — even partially — proved to be the difference between missing the playoffs and winning the division.
