Pittsburgh Steelers star T.J. Watt’s return timeline remains uncertain as the linebacker continues recovering from a partially collapsed lung, but he was able to return to practice on Wednesday, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter previously reported on Saturday that Watt’s return was “murky and uncertain.”

“Watt’s focus has been on getting healthy from his partially collapsed lung; returning to play is secondary, and has not been his focus,” Schefter noted. “Doctors will assess how he feels next week to see if there’s even a chance to play in Week 17, but ideally Watt gets more time to recover from his lung injury.”

Watt underwent successful surgery on his lung on Dec. 12 after suffering his lung injury following a dry needling treatment at the Steelers facility the day prior, according to his brother J.J. Watt.

The 31-year-old had already been ruled out for a second straight game ahead of the Steelers’ Week 16 matchup with the Detroit Lions.

The Steelers won their first game without Watt in a Week 15 matchup against the Miami Dolphins before defeating the Lions on Sunday.

J.J. Watt said in a appearance on ESPN’s Pat McAfee Show on Dec. 17 that his brother was still “working through” his recovery.

“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,” J.J. Watt told McAfee.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin then told reporters Friday that Watt was back in the team building, but that he would let the linebacker “speak for himself” regarding his injury status.

Watt, who did not practice this week, has yet to speak to reporters since his injury.

The Steelers signed Watt to a three-year extension last summer after watching him rack up 30.5 sacks in 34 games across the 2023 and 2024 seasons.

Watt had recorded a team-high 7.0 sacks in 13 games this season prior to his injury.

Following Sunday’s game against the Lions, the Steelers are set to finish out the regular season against the Cleveland Browns on Dec. 28 and the Baltimore Ravens on Jan. 4.

How the Steelers perform in these final three games will determine whether Pittsburgh (9-6) is able to beat out Baltimore (7-8) in the race to the top of the AFC North.