Steelers Face Potential Hot Water Over TJ Watt Situation
Pittsburgh Steelers fans are bracing themselves for the news that star linebacker T.J. Watt may be out for an extended period, following a punctured lung suffered during a dry needling treatment session at the team facility.
According to J.J. Watt, his brother and fellow NFL player, T.J.'s condition was stable after a successful surgery on Friday, but the recovery timeline is still uncertain. While it's unlikely that T.J. will play in this week's matchup against the Miami Dolphins, he could potentially miss significantly more time - four weeks, to be exact - if the situation is compared to a similar case involving former New York Jets quarterback Tyrod Taylor.
Taylor suffered a punctured lung at the team facility years ago and missed four weeks of action. A similar timeline for T.J. Watt's recovery could put his status in question for the wild-card round of the playoffs, should the Steelers qualify for the postseason.
However, the situation is not just about T.J.'s health - it also raises concerns about the Steelers' handling of the incident and potential repercussions from the NFL Players Association (NFLPA). According to reports, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk and Mike DeFabo of The Athletic suggest that the Steelers could be in trouble if T.J. decides to file a grievance with the NFLPA or escalates things further.
The NFLPA is already aware of the situation and has been in contact with Watt's representation, gathering more information as they assess the extent of the impairment and its impact on T.J.'s ability to play. The union may consider litigation as an option, depending on the circumstances.
As a result, Steelers fans should be prepared for some potentially bad news - not just about T.J.'s health, but also about the team's handling of the situation and potential consequences from the NFLPA.
Pittsburgh Steelers fans are bracing themselves for the news that star linebacker T.J. Watt may be out for an extended period, following a punctured lung suffered during a dry needling treatment session at the team facility.
According to J.J. Watt, his brother and fellow NFL player, T.J.'s condition was stable after a successful surgery on Friday, but the recovery timeline is still uncertain. While it's unlikely that T.J. will play in this week's matchup against the Miami Dolphins, he could potentially miss significantly more time - four weeks, to be exact - if the situation is compared to a similar case involving former New York Jets quarterback Tyrod Taylor.
Taylor suffered a punctured lung at the team facility years ago and missed four weeks of action. A similar timeline for T.J. Watt's recovery could put his status in question for the wild-card round of the playoffs, should the Steelers qualify for the postseason.
However, the situation is not just about T.J.'s health - it also raises concerns about the Steelers' handling of the incident and potential repercussions from the NFL Players Association (NFLPA). According to reports, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk and Mike DeFabo of The Athletic suggest that the Steelers could be in trouble if T.J. decides to file a grievance with the NFLPA or escalates things further.
The NFLPA is already aware of the situation and has been in contact with Watt's representation, gathering more information as they assess the extent of the impairment and its impact on T.J.'s ability to play. The union may consider litigation as an option, depending on the circumstances.
As a result, Steelers fans should be prepared for some potentially bad news - not just about T.J.'s health, but also about the team's handling of the situation and potential consequences from the NFLPA.