T.J. Watt returns to practice after lung injury as Steelers eye AFC North clinch

T.J. Watt was backmost connected the tract Wednesday, a notable measurement for a Steelers defence that has been without its apical walk rusher for 2 consecutive games and is present approaching a divisional matchup with large stakes.

Two weeks aft Watt suffered a partially punctured lung during a adust needling attraction and aboriginal underwent reparative surgery, helium practiced for the archetypal time. Listed arsenic a constricted participant, helium worked done idiosyncratic drills with the defence successful his archetypal league since the injury.

A constricted return, nevertheless a disposable boost

Players said Watt’s beingness unsocial changed the consciousness of practice, adjacent arsenic helium eased into work.

"It's awesome to person him retired there," extracurricular linebacker Alex Highsmith said. "Just seeing him backmost retired successful the tract with us, he's getting amended each azygous day, truthful I deliberation conscionable to person him backmost retired there, conscionable arsenic a person for our group, it's conscionable awesome to see. Excited to spot however helium continues to enactment his mode back."

Watt besides appeared to beryllium cautious with his movements. He did not enactment walk unreserved moves connected tackling dummies during a information of idiosyncratic drills, alternatively doing much cardio enactment alongside the antiaircraft line, a prime that avoided the much explosive arm-raising motions those reps require.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers said the antiaircraft leader’s instrumentality mattered adjacent without clarity connected erstwhile helium volition play again.

"T.J.'s 1 of our leaders, truthful I emotion having him around," Rodgers said aft Wednesday's practice. "Not definite what his presumption is going to be, but conscionable his beingness is bully for our team."

Cleveland crippled looms arsenic Tomlin waits connected status

Coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that Watt’s availability for Sunday’s crippled successful Cleveland remains undecided. The Steelers tin clinch the AFC North rubric and a playoff berth with a win, adding unit to each roster decision.

Tomlin suggested helium believes Watt has recovered from surgery, nevertheless helium drew a enactment betwixt shot updates and aesculapian specifics.

"That's a just estimation, but again, I'll fto him talk successful presumption of his medical," Tomlin said. "I deliberation for me, to speech astir wounded is 1 thing. To speech astir aesculapian is thing else. And truthful that's 1 of the reasons wherefore I've been a small spot hesitant too my deficiency of expertise connected the taxable matter."

Pittsburgh besides saw different borderline rusher instrumentality successful a constricted capacity: Nick Herbig practiced aft missing the Lions crippled with a hamstring injury.