The Pittsburgh Steelers‘ linebacker T.J. Watt was hospitalized after experiencing sudden discomfort at the team’s facility. It prompted immediate medical evaluation and left everyone worried. Now, head coach Mike Tomlin has shared a careful update on the player’s condition. He also cleared the air on whether Watt will step onto the Acrisure Stadium next week for the matchup against the Miami Dolphins. Dive in!

“I’m a little bit, you know, cautious about what I say because I’m not a medical expert, but to make a long story short, he was experiencing just some discomfort when he was at the facility yesterday,” he said, via Chris Adamski’s post on X. “He has a lung situation that’s being addressed.”

In a clip shared by Adamski, Tomlin revealed the team sent T.J. Watt to medical specialists after the incident on Wednesday. The pass rusher underwent some procedures and spent the night in the hospital. Further, the coach said that doctors will run some tests on him later in the day as evaluations continue. 

“He and I communicated last night,” he added. “He was comfortable, and that’s all I have really at this point.”

Recounting the incident, Tomlin said he was clueless about what triggered Watt’s discomfort or when it began. He just remembered him being in the cafeteria before he caught wind of the whole incident. He was asked if T.J. Watt had been dealing with anything before this that would have landed him on the injury report. The coach shut down that speculation without going into detail, per the Steelers’ official website. 

“Not to my knowledge at all, particularly in game or after the game, nothing,” he said.

Meanwhile, the NFL Players Association has also reached out to Watt and his representatives, according to ESPN’s Brooke Pryor. It signals that the NFL is closely monitoring the situation. But the big question remains: Will Watt suit up for Monday Night Football? The coach echoed the sentiments of many reporters, revealing that T.J. Watt’s playing status remains questionable.

He emphasized that the results of the medical evaluations will be the deciding factor and that everything remains vague until then. Amid T.J. Watt’s health scare and a plethora of injured players, the Steelers are drowning in playoff pressure.

Steelers face playoff pressure amid T.J. Watt’s setback

The franchise may be ruling the AFC North with a 7-6 record, but the Baltimore Ravens are behind by just one game. It’s like almost every game out of the remaining four carries immense weight in their playoff push. The timing couldn’t be more critical, with the team preparing to clash with the Dolphins. 

According to the NFL’s official website, the team has a 66% chance of making it to the postseason. It could rise to 74% if they edge out the Week 15 opponents. However, a loss will lead to a fall of ten percentage points to 56%. While it’s not a do-or-die match, the Steelers have one more game left against the Detroit Lions, a team with a stronger record. 

On the bright side, the Steelers’ win over the Ravens has changed the trajectory of their division. Currently, the Ravens sit with a 33% playoff chance. They could climb to 45% with a win or plummet to just 16% with a loss. With the Steelers’ destiny in their own hands, all eyes now turn to their performance against the Dolphins, who have won four of their last five games.