The NFL reports that Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end TJ Watt had surgery on Dec 11 to repair a partially collapsed lung.
The surgery was first reported by Watt’s brother, former NFL player and current broadcaster JJ Watt, who says the injury was the result of “dry needling” treatment at the team’s facility.
Yesterday TJ had successful surgery to stabilize and repair a partially collapsed lung suffered Wednesday after a dry needling treatment session at the facility.
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) December 12, 2025
Recovery timeline is still TBD, but all went well and he is being released from the hospital today.
He and his…
According to the Steelers, Watt “was experiencing some discomfort” at the team’s facility on Dec 10 and was later taken to a Pittsburgh-area hospital for an evaluation of his lung.
Watt underwent surgery on Dec 11 and was discharged on Dec 12. He has not played an NFL game since Dec 7 but may play in the January 4 season finale against the Baltimore Ravens, which will decide the NFL’s AFC North Division title.
ESPN reports that dry needling is “a skilled intervention where the provider uses a thin needle to penetrate the skin with the goal of alleviating pain and improving movement. Unlike ‘wet’ needling, which utilizes a hollow bore needle (which has a central channel to allow liquid to pass through it) to inject a medication, dry needling utilizes a solid needle and no substance is injected. Common applications for dry needling include, but aren’t limited to, muscle pain/strains (eg, hamstring, quad), tendinitis/tendinopathy (eg, patellofemoral, biceps, rotator cuff), plantar fasciitis and headaches. Utilization has expanded within the past decade, in particular, and it is not uncommon to see dry needling in most athletic rehabilitation settings or training rooms.“
Read the full article at www.nfl.com
Image credit: Joshua J. Seybert, U.S. Air Force photo. Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt runs onto the field before a Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Indianapolis Colts game at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, November 3, 2019. During the football game the National Football League honored military members currently serving as well as veterans who have served in the past with a variety of events. (U.S. Air Force photo by Joshua J. Seybert) Joshua J. Seybert – https://www.dvidshub.net/image/5886964/running-through-limelight. PUBLIC DOMAIN. This work, Running through the limelight [Image 10 of 10], by Joshua Seybert, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
