The Pittsburgh Steelers are looking to get back their star pass rusher after a health scare.
There aren’t too many NFL games in Week 18 that are for all the marbles. The Pittsburgh Steelers AFC North showdown against the Baltimore Ravens is certainly one of them. The winner gets the title and advances to the playoffs. The loser goes home and won’t see the postseason. The Steelers couldn’t manage to beat the Cleveland Browns to clinch the division in Week 17, and the absence of DK Metcalf showed. So did the absence of the team’s star pass rusher, T.J. Watt, who suffered a partially collapsed lung on Dec. 10.
Watt has been out the last three games recovering from the incident that led to surgery. That absence is over, as the team announced that Watt will return and play against the Ravens in the regular-season finale. That is a major boost that returns one of the best defenders in the NFL in a must-win game.
Here is the full story from Steelers Roundtable writer Ben Cooper on the star’s return ahead of the Week 18 game with high stakes.
Watt fully participated in Friday’s practice for the first time since the incident and won’t have an injury designation for the game. He already has seven sacks, two fumble recoveries, one interception, and 10 tackles for loss this year despite the three-game absence, showing how much of a disruption he can make on the field. Despite the incident occurring at the practice facility, there doesn’t appear to be any hard feelings. Pittsburgh will need all hands on deck to beat Baltimore, as Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is also expected to play, making Watt a critical return.Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson