T.J. Watt hospitalized for lung evaluation after having discomfort at Steelers practice facility

T.J. Watt was taken to a Pittsburgh area hospital for further evaluation of his lung after experiencing discomfort at the Steelers practice facility on Wednesday, the team announced. 

Watt did not practice on Thursday and his status for Pittsburgh's upcoming game against the Miami Dolphins is in question. 

"I'm a little bit cautious about what I say, because I am not a medical expert," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin told reporters Thursday. "But to make a long story short, he was experiencing some discomfort when he was at the facility [Wednesday}. So, we took him to the docs and they're going through some procedures. He stayed overnight in the hospital.

"He has a lung situation that's being addressed. I think he has some testing and so forth ahead of him this afternoon, and that's all I know at this juncture. He and I communicated last night, he was comfortable, and that's all I have really at this point." 

Tomlin said he learned of Watt's situation when he was in the team's cafeteria on Wednesday. While he doesn't know when or what prompted Watt's discomfort, Tomlin does not think that it is anything that would have led to him being on the team's injury report. 

"Not to my knowledge at all, particularly in game or after the game, nothing," he said. 

The 31-year-old Watt is in the middle of his ninth season with the Steelers, who selected him with the 30th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. 

A seven-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro, Watt won NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2021 after tying the league's single-season record of 22.5 sacks. Watt, who has led the NFL in sacks on three separate occasions, is the Steelers' career leader with 115 sacks. Earlier this season, he surpassed his brother and future Hall of Famer JJ Watt on the NFL's career sack list. 

In 13 games this season, Watt has recorded 7.0 sacks, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and an interception for the Steelers, who are currently 7-6 and lead the Baltimore Ravens by one game in the AFC North standings. 

If Watt can't face Miami, he will be replaced by Nick Herbig, a fellow former Wisconsin Badger who has made nine starts over the past two years. This season, Herbig has recorded a career-high 6.5 sacks to go with three forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and an interception. 

Watt is the second Steelers player to be hospitalized in recent days. Following Pittsburgh's Week 14 win over the Ravens, wideout DK Metcalf stayed overnight in a Baltimore area hospital after experiencing stomach pains. Tomlin said earlier this week that Metcalf is "moving in the right direction." 

The Steelers are also dealing with injuries to tight end Darnell Washington, offensive tackle Andrus Peat, linebacker Malik Harrison, cornerback James Pierre, defensive linemen Keeanu Benton and Derrick Harmon, and safety Kyle Dugger. 

Washington, Peat, and Harrison are in the concussion protocol. Pierre and Benton dealing with calf and ankle injuries, respectively, that were sustained during last Sunday's win over Baltimore. Dugger (hand) has a chance to play against the Dolphins after missing last Sunday's game. Harmon's status for Monday night is up on the air as he has missed Pittsburgh's last two games with a knee injury. 

Like Watt, Harmon has made a significant impact on Pittsburgh's defense during his rookie season. The Steelers are allowing just 96 rushing yards per game when he plays but has given up an average of 191.3 rushing yards per game during the four games that he has not played in this season.