After breaking the news about T.J. Watt’s exact situation less than one week ago, big brother J.J. Watt offered an update on T.J.’s status after undergoing surgery for a partially collapsed lung following a dry-needling treatment.

“He is working through it. He is working through it,” J.J. Watt said during his regular Wednesday appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. “It’s obviously not somewhere that he expected or would like to be. But just handling the situation day by day and making sure to find the appropriate and proper steps to get back to where he would like to be.”

“TJ is working thru it and he’s handling the situation day by day..

It’s obviously not something that he expected and he’s finding the proper steps to get back to where he would like it be” ~ @JJWatt

Please send him our positive vibes #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/jRX7lDXjji

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) December 17, 2025

Predictably and understandably, J.J. Watt was tight-lipped about T.J.’s status. The situation still seems fluid, and it’s not known when he’ll return. Reporters have offered conflicting reports with some saying he will be back during the regular season while others believe the Steelers will be “very lucky” for him to even return for Wild Card weekend.

There’s also the reality of a potential legal and liability situation that everyone commenting has to be cognizant of. It’s still unknown who administered Watt’s dry-needling treatment and their relationship with the team. A doctor, a trainer, a third-party contractor. After Los Angeles Chargers QB Tyrod Taylor had his lung punctured in 2020, he sued the team doctor for $5 million citing pain and suffering. The resolution of that suit, or if it remains ongoing, is unclear.

The situation threw a curveball into Watt’s season, one he was looking to finish strong as the Steelers look to win the AFC North for the first time since 2020.

“I would say unexpected is the appropriate word,” J.J. Watt told the show. “I mean, yeah, dry needling is incredibly common. Everybody in the league, most anybody who’s been in the league, has probably done it at some point. I would say he was certainly not anticipating being in the hospital and getting lung surgery last week.”

Pittsburgh hasn’t offered many updates on Watt, either. Tuesday, Mike Tomlin said he had no update on Watt’s health or availability and admitted he wasn’t even sure if Watt had returned to the team facility.

J.J. Watt’s initial comments came seemingly in response to NFL Network’s report that didn’t provide full details on T.J.’s situation. A report that did not explicitly mention surgery, a partially collapsed lung, or that it occurred after treatment.

Yesterday TJ had successful surgery to stabilize and repair a partially collapsed lung suffered Wednesday after a dry needling treatment session at the facility.

Recovery timeline is still TBD, but all went well and he is being released from the hospital today.

He and his…

— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) December 12, 2025

The Steelers are practicing Wednesday afternoon and will release their first injury report of the week. Presumably, Watt will not be among the group working.