PITTSBURGH — T.J. Watt is back. Sort of.
The Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker returned to practice Wednesday, two weeks after he had surgery to repair a partially collapsed lung following a dry-needle treatment.
Watt was a limited participant Wednesday. While coach Mike Tomlin said he’s hopeful Watt will be able to return this weekend when the Steelers (9-6) try to wrap up the AFC North title with a road win against the Cleveland Browns, Watt’s availability remains uncertain.
Still, having Watt’s familiar No. 90 on the practice field is a good sign for a team that hopes to have him back in time for the playoffs at the latest, should the Steelers qualify for the third straight year.
“TJ is one of our leaders, so I love having him around,” quarterback Aaron Rodgers said. “Not sure what his status is going to be, but just his presence is good for the team.”
Watt was named to his eighth consecutive Pro Bowl on Tuesday. The 30-year-old is having a somewhat down year by his standards, with just seven sacks through 13 games played, though he also has two forced fumbles and an interception.