A routine week for the Pittsburgh Steelers was shattered by a concerning health update on star linebacker T.J. Watt. His status for Monday’s game against the Miami Dolphins is in jeopardy after reports revealed he had been admitted to a local hospital.

“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,” team spokesperson Burt Lauten posted on X. “He will not be at practice on Thursday, and his status for Monday night’s game vs. Miami is in question. Coach Tomlin will provide more updates at the appropriate time.”

Watt’s absence from the game is a big deal, considering he has not missed a game since the 2022 season.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter later revealed that Watt suffered a lung injury during treatment at the facility on Wednesday and has remained hospitalized since then. This is a tense situation for the teammates as they pray for his recovery.

Fellow pass rusher Alex Highsmith has been in touch with Watt and hopes he gets better quickly. Veteran QB Aaron Rodgers, on the other hand, is confident his linebacker will return soon. “I would never bet against anybody in the Watt family of being able to deal with something small or large and getting back on the field as quickly as possible.”

The NFL Players Association is also aware of the matter and has been in touch with the player and his representative. Right now, it is way too early to compare his health concerns with any past situation, including the punctured lung that Chargers quarterback Tyrod Taylor suffered in 2020. Taylor had later sued the doctor.

If T.J. Watt can’t suit up for the next game, the team will depend on Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig. Both players have started at different points this year, but they have not played a game without Watt in the lineup.

Highsmith has played nine games so far and recorded 6.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 0 picks. On the other hand, in 12 games this season, Herbig has tallied 6.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and an interception. Yet, the team won’t be the same without Watt.

The 31-year-old is in the middle of his ninth NFL season and has contributed significantly to the Steelers’ defense. The player began his career with the Steelers in 2017 and has remained devoted to them ever since. This season, he has appeared in 13 games and piled up 53 combined tackles, seven sacks, three forced fumbles, and an interception.

Head coach Mike Tomlin talks about T.J. Watt’s health

While talking about Watt’s health concerns, head coach Mike Tomlin added that his availability for their next game against the Dolphins remains questionable at the moment and will only be confirmed once the test results are back.

“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.”

He has been in contact with the player and shared that Watt was comfortable. “His status for Monday night is really up in the air. I think what transpires this afternoon is going to provide more information for us. I just don’t have a lot as I stand here today.”

When asked about what led to the discomfort in the first place, the head coach denied having any knowledge about it. Watt was initially in the cafeteria when Tomlin got to know about the health concern. So, the coach, like everyone else, hopes that the player comes back soon.

Currently, the Steelers (7-6) hold a narrow lead over the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North. And just one defeat could cost them the top spot.

Would T.J. Watt’s potential absence from the Week 15 game lead the team to their second straight win, or take them out of the playoff race? That remains to be seen once we have further updates on the linebacker’s condition.