Steelers All-Pro outside linebacker T.J. Watt is currently in a local hospital after experiencing discomfort in one of his lungs while at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on Wednesday.
Team spokesman Burt Lauten provided the following statement:
"T.J. Watt is currently in a local hospital for further medical evaluation of his lung after experiencing discomfort at the practice facility on Wednesday. He will not be at practice on Thursday, and his status for Monday night's games vs. Miami is in question. Coach [Mike] Tomlin will provide more updates at the appropriate time."
Watt has not dealt with any rib injuries or any muscle in his torso this season. How this became an issue out of nowhere remains a mystery, even to Tomlin, who said he does not know what prompted the discomfort.
"I'm a little bit cautious about what I say, because I am not a medical expert," Tomlin said after Thursday's practice. "But to make a long story short, he was experiencing some discomfort when he was at the facility yesterday. We took him to the (doctors) and they're going through some procedures. He stayed overnight in the hospital. He has a lung situation that's being addressed. I think he has some testing and so forth ahead of him this afternoon, and that's all I know at this juncture."
Tomlin also said he and Watt communicated Wednesday, saying Watt was "comfortable."
According to ESPN, the NFL Players Association is monitoring the situation and is in communication with Watt and his representation. Alex Highsmith described Watt's hospitalization as a "scary situation," but that Watt was is good spirits when the two previously talked.
The primary concern is obviously for Watt's health. And if the NFLPA is involved and finds out anything serious, it'll become public knowledge sooner or later.
On the field, this is obviously a huge blow to a defense that's struggled mightily against the run in recent weeks. That's not about to get any easier with De'Von Achane, the third-leading rusher in the NFL, coming to town. And if the Steelers don't have Watt on the field, who remains one of the best run-defending edge rushers in the game, it'll make it even more difficult.
THE ASYLUM
Watt hospitalized, status in question
Steelers All-Pro outside linebacker T.J. Watt is currently in a local hospital after experiencing discomfort in one of his lungs while at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on Wednesday.
Team spokesman Burt Lauten provided the following statement:
"T.J. Watt is currently in a local hospital for further medical evaluation of his lung after experiencing discomfort at the practice facility on Wednesday. He will not be at practice on Thursday, and his status for Monday night's games vs. Miami is in question. Coach [Mike] Tomlin will provide more updates at the appropriate time."
Watt has not dealt with any rib injuries or any muscle in his torso this season. How this became an issue out of nowhere remains a mystery, even to Tomlin, who said he does not know what prompted the discomfort.
"I'm a little bit cautious about what I say, because I am not a medical expert," Tomlin said after Thursday's practice. "But to make a long story short, he was experiencing some discomfort when he was at the facility yesterday. We took him to the (doctors) and they're going through some procedures. He stayed overnight in the hospital. He has a lung situation that's being addressed. I think he has some testing and so forth ahead of him this afternoon, and that's all I know at this juncture."
Tomlin also said he and Watt communicated Wednesday, saying Watt was "comfortable."
According to ESPN, the NFL Players Association is monitoring the situation and is in communication with Watt and his representation. Alex Highsmith described Watt's hospitalization as a "scary situation," but that Watt was is good spirits when the two previously talked.
The primary concern is obviously for Watt's health. And if the NFLPA is involved and finds out anything serious, it'll become public knowledge sooner or later.
On the field, this is obviously a huge blow to a defense that's struggled mightily against the run in recent weeks. That's not about to get any easier with De'Von Achane, the third-leading rusher in the NFL, coming to town. And if the Steelers don't have Watt on the field, who remains one of the best run-defending edge rushers in the game, it'll make it even more difficult.
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