T.J. Watt says he is ready to return for Steelers vs Ravens in Week 18

T.J. Watt expects to instrumentality Sunday for Pittsburgh’s winner-take-all AFC North crippled against the Baltimore Ravens aft missing 3 games portion recovering from a partially collapsed lung.

“I consciousness beauteous good,” Watt said Friday, speaking publically for the archetypal clip since the Dec. 10 incidental and consequent surgery. “Honestly, don't cognize if I could person said that a week ago, but I consciousness truly good. Feel truly assured astir the week of signifier and excited to play.”

Practice points toward a afloat return

Watt was a afloat subordinate successful Friday’s signifier for the archetypal clip since the injury, and helium does not person an wounded designation for Sunday. He said helium has not discussed playing connected a drawback count.

“It's inactive truthful early,” Watt said. “Like I said, I had a large week of practice. I had nary limitations. Tried to simulate arsenic overmuch arsenic I could with enarthrosis pads and worldly similar that, but you tin lone simulate truthful much. So I consciousness truly bully close now. Hoping that's the lawsuit connected Sunday arsenic well.”

The Steelers person played without 1 of their antiaircraft anchors. Watt has 7 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 interception, and 10 tackles for nonaccomplishment this season.

A “fluke thing” and an unfamiliar recovery

Watt said helium felt “significant” symptom aft a adust needling attraction astatine the squad facility, earlier helium went to the infirmary and needed surgery.

“Didn't consciousness right,” helium said. “Shortly afterwards was successful a important magnitude of pain. Ended up going to the infirmary and, arsenic you guys saw, ended up needing surgery, and the betterment was conscionable antithetic due to the fact that it was thing I wasn't utilized to, but I'm precise thankful for everybody here. ... It's been precise unique, but I consciousness truly bully sitting present today.”

He called what happened “a fluke thing, apparently,” adding helium volition not beryllium doing adust needling again anytime soon. The recovery, helium said, was hard to justice due to the fact that it was unfamiliar.

“Anytime you walk 2 oregon 3 nights successful the hospital, it sucks,” Watt said. With a playoff berth astatine stake, helium described his information arsenic “Oh huge,” adding, “Obviously, we conscionable started the playoffs a week early.”