Window remains open for Steelers' T.J. Watt to return from injured reserve, face Eagles

T.J. Watt is leaving open the possibility of returning to the Pittsburgh Steelers in time for their game Sunday against the 6-0 Philadelphia Eagles.

The veteran outside linebacker practiced Friday with the Steelers, raising the likelihood he could be activated from injured reserve before the team’s bye week.

“I don’t know,” Watt said when asked whether he might suit up against the Eagles. “I mean, we’ll have to see.”

Three days earlier, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said it was “highly unlikely” Watt would return this weekend.

If Watt were to return to face the Eagles, he would have to be activated before 4 p.m. Saturday. Once he began practicing Wednesday, Watt started a 21-day clock in which he must be activated or spend the rest of the season on injured reserve.

“I’m going about my business, doing what I’m asked, seeing how my body responds to the activity,” Watt said. “I feel very encouraged with where I’m at right now.”

The prevailing school of thought was the Steelers (2-5) would wait until after the bye week, which follows the game in Philadelphia, before activating Watt, who has watched the team go 1-5 and struggle to generate a pass rush in his absence.

Watt, though, also doesn’t want to return too soon and risk aggravating an injury that could interrupt his season again.

“The Steelers have invested in me and want me to be here for the long term. I want to be here long term,” said Watt, who will have three years left after this season on his four-year, $112 million contract extension. “I want to play at a high level. I have a lot of people in my corner who have my best interests and are going to make sure I’m doing what is right for myself and this football team.”

While recovering from his pectoral tear, Watt aggravated a knee injury, which required surgery. Although he was hurt on a cut block in his lone preseason appearance, Watt didn’t necessarily say that contributed to his knee requiring surgery.

“In totality, it’s about getting my body back to playing,” he said. “There are a lot of aspects that go into playing an NFL football game, and I feel like I’m going in the right direction.”

Watt feared the worst — a season-ending injury — when he felt a “pop” in his pectoral muscle late in the fourth quarter of the Steelers’ opener at Cincinnati. He wasn’t around to see the Steelers win the game 23-20 in overtime.

“I’ve had muscle pulls before,” he said. “You feel some sort of pop and a snap. You know immediately it’s not good. It’s a matter of how bad it was.”

Watt said the pec muscle is “trending that way” toward being 100% healed, and he has taken measures to shorten his recovery time from his injuries.

“It doesn’t matter if I’m coming off whatever injury, I’m going to try to find a way to get better and not be a slouch and sit on the couch and eat potato chips and ice whatever body part I’m icing,” he said. “I’m always trying to find a way that when I come back, the acclimation period is as quick as possible. I feel I’ve done a good job of that. We won’t know until I actually play.”

Without the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, a player who tied the league’s single-season sack record in 2021, the Steelers failed to get a sack in three of the next six games. After getting seven sacks in the opener, the Steelers have totaled five since.

“It always (stinks) when you can’t physically put your hand in the pile and make a difference on game day,” he said. “I try to find any way I can to get as involved as possible without stepping on too many toes. I’m just excited to get back.”

His teammates are just as excited to potentially have Watt back Sunday.

“I know he’s been itching to get back being out this extended amount of time,” outside linebacker Malik Reed said. “He’s ready and excited and brings a lot of energy.”

Whether Watt returns Sunday or his debut is put on hold until Nov. 13 against New Orleans, he will return to the Steelers defense with an appreciation of the game and it’s worth to him.

“It’s a tough game. Some fluky things happen,” he said. “Anything can happen on any given play. If anything, this gives me more of a reason not to take this game for granted. It (stinks) not being able to practice and being able to play, but when you come back, you cherish it that much more and you want it that much more. That’s the approach I’m taking.”