{"id":9182,"date":"2025-12-13T05:05:56","date_gmt":"2025-12-13T05:05:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/garrett-watt-collapsed-lung\/"},"modified":"2025-12-13T05:05:56","modified_gmt":"2025-12-13T05:05:56","slug":"garrett-watt-collapsed-lung","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/garrett-watt-collapsed-lung\/","title":{"rendered":"Myles Garrett reaches out to Steelers rival T.J. Watt in the wake of his collapsed lung"},"content":{"rendered":"<article>\n<p>Lead: Myles Garrett said Friday that he reached out to Steelers pass-rush standout T.J. Watt after reports that Watt suffered a partially collapsed lung following a dry-needling treatment at the Steelers facility. The update, posted on X by Watt\u2019s brother J.J. Watt on Dec. 12, 2025, said T.J. underwent surgery and had been discharged from the hospital but was ruled out for Monday night\u2019s game against the Miami Dolphins. Garrett, speaking at the Browns\u2019 Berea facility, described Watt as a rival on the field but not an enemy off it, and offered his hopes for a full recovery. The incident has immediate roster implications for the Steelers and broader ripple effects in the AFC North race.<\/p>\n<h2>Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>J.J. Watt posted on X on Dec. 12, 2025, that his brother T.J. suffered a partially collapsed lung after a dry-needling session and underwent surgery; he was discharged from the hospital afterward.<\/li>\n<li>T.J. Watt has been officially ruled out for the Steelers\u2019 Monday night game vs. the Miami Dolphins (Dec. 15, 2025), per the team\u2019s announcements.<\/li>\n<li>Myles Garrett confirmed he reached out to Watt during his weekly availability in Berea, Ohio, and offered public wishes for the Watt family\u2019s wellbeing.<\/li>\n<li>Watt leads the Steelers with seven sacks this season and is tied for the team lead with three forced fumbles; his absence removes a key veteran presence from a 7-6 Steelers squad competing atop the AFC North.<\/li>\n<li>Garrett is three sacks away from the NFL single-season sack record of 22.5, a mark shared by Michael Strahan (2001) and T.J. Watt (2021); Garrett\u2019s pursuit now carries added narrative weight.<\/li>\n<li>The Steelers and Browns meet again in Cleveland on Week 17, Dec. 28, 2025, creating high stakes for both teams as the division race tightens.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Background<\/h2>\n<p>The Garrett\u2013Watt matchup has become one of the NFL\u2019s marquee individual rivalries over recent seasons. Garrett, the Browns\u2019 defensive end and a former NFL Defensive Player of the Year candidate, and T.J. Watt, the Steelers star and 2021 Defensive Player of the Year, have exchanged top-level performances that have helped shape AFC North outcomes. Their on-field clashes have often drawn headlines, and intermittent off-field barbs or social-media commentary have amplified the rivalry in public view.<\/p>\n<p>Medical procedures for athletes \u2014 including therapies like dry needling, injections and other interventions \u2014 are common in NFL facilities, intended to expedite recovery or manage chronic issues. When complications occur, they can affect both short-term availability and a team\u2019s season trajectory. The Steelers, at 7-6 and a game ahead of the Ravens in the division, now face an immediate personnel test with Watt sidelined, while the Browns must weigh both competitive concerns and the more human dimension of wishing a rival well.<\/p>\n<h2>Main Event<\/h2>\n<p>On Friday, Garrett said he had attempted to reach Watt after word of the injury circulated. He told reporters in Berea he did not have Watt\u2019s direct phone number but had made an effort through available channels. Garrett emphasized that, despite the rivalry, he regards Watt and his family with respect and said he was praying for their wellbeing after J.J. Watt\u2019s post revealed the diagnosis.<\/p>\n<p>J.J. Watt\u2019s message on X \u2014 which first disclosed that the issue followed a dry-needling treatment at the Steelers\u2019 facility \u2014 said the procedure preceded a partially collapsed lung and subsequent surgery. The post did not provide a detailed medical timeline; the Steelers later confirmed Watt would not play Monday night against Miami. The team\u2019s public injury reports and personnel moves in the coming days will determine how the front office and coaching staff adjust their pass\u2011rush rotation.<\/p>\n<p>The immediate game impact is clear: Watt, a seven-time Pro Bowler and team leader with seven sacks this season, will not be available for a contest that could affect AFC playoff seeding. For the Browns, Garrett\u2019s outreach underscores both the high-profile nature of their rivalry and the shared fraternity among elite defensive players who face similar physical risks. The Week 17 rematch in Cleveland on Dec. 28 now looms with added uncertainty around personnel for Pittsburgh.<\/p>\n<h2>Analysis &#038; Implications<\/h2>\n<p>Short-term, the Steelers must redistribute snap duties and pressures among their remaining edge options. Watt\u2019s absence removes not only sack production but also intangible leadership \u2014 veteran play-calling on rushing downs, situational awareness and the attention he draws from opposing offenses. That can shift blocking schemes and create space for other pass rushers, but it also increases pressure on depth players who may have limited experience against high-level offensive tackles.<\/p>\n<p>From a standings perspective, Pittsburgh\u2019s 7-6 record places extra weight on each remaining game in the AFC North fight. A string of unexpected losses without Watt could open a path for the Ravens or Bengals to overtake the division lead. Conversely, a short-term stepping-up performance by backups could mitigate the loss. Teams that face Pittsburgh in the next few weeks will likely adjust game plans to test the front seven without its top rusher.<\/p>\n<p>For Garrett, the episode reframes his own chase of the single-season sack record. With Garrett three sacks shy of the 22.5 mark, media focus intensifies on his final weeks; narratives that once emphasized rivalry may pivot toward mutual respect, particularly as injuries remind rival players of shared occupational hazards. The league\u2019s medical protocols and team facility procedures could also receive renewed scrutiny if investigators determine any treatment-related lapses contributed to the injury.<\/p>\n<h2>Comparison &#038; Data<\/h2>\n<figure>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Player<\/th>\n<th>Season<\/th>\n<th>Sacks<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Michael Strahan<\/td>\n<td>2001<\/td>\n<td>22.5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>T.J. Watt<\/td>\n<td>2021<\/td>\n<td>22.5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Myles Garrett<\/td>\n<td>2025 (through Dec. 12)<\/td>\n<td>19.5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n<p>The table above shows the NFL single-season sack leaders: Strahan and T.J. Watt share the record at 22.5 sacks. As of Dec. 12, 2025, Garrett is three sacks away from that mark, listed here at 19.5 based on the reporting that he is &#8220;three sacks away&#8221;. That proximity shapes late-season coverage and strategic decisions by offenses aimed at limiting his pass-rush opportunities.<\/p>\n<h2>Reactions &#038; Quotes<\/h2>\n<p>Garrett framed his outreach in human terms, signaling solidarity beyond team rivalries while also acknowledging the competitive backdrop.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;I reached out to him, but I don\u2019t have his number or anything&#8230; I\u2019m hoping for the best.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite>Myles Garrett<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>J.J. Watt\u2019s social post supplied the first public medical detail and the news that T.J. had left the hospital after surgery.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;He suffered a partially collapsed lung following a dry needling treatment&#8230; he underwent surgery to treat it.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite>J.J. Watt (X post)<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h2>\n<aside>\n<details>\n<summary>Explainer: Collapsed lung and dry needling<\/summary>\n<p>A partially collapsed lung (pneumothorax) occurs when air collects between the lung and chest wall, reducing lung volume and causing breathlessness or chest pain. Treatment ranges from observation to chest-tube drainage or surgery, depending on severity. Dry needling is a technique used to relieve muscle tightness using thin needles applied into trigger points; it differs from acupuncture in intent and technique. While generally considered low-risk when performed by trained clinicians, any invasive procedure carries a small risk of complications, including, in rare cases, pneumothorax when needles penetrate near the lung\u2019s surface. Teams typically manage such treatments under medical supervision, and league medical staffs monitor procedures and outcomes to protect player safety.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/aside>\n<\/h2>\n<h2>Unconfirmed<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Whether the dry-needling session directly caused the pneumothorax has not been independently confirmed by medical investigators.<\/li>\n<li>The expected recovery timeline for T.J. Watt and any potential longer-term effects on his 2025 season remain unclear from public statements.<\/li>\n<li>Specific details about the surgery performed and whether additional procedures will be required have not been released by the team or family.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Bottom Line<\/h2>\n<p>The episode moves quickly from social-media disclosure to roster reality: a high-profile medical issue sidelined an elite defender at a critical juncture for the Steelers. Garrett\u2019s outreach underscores the human side of intense rivalries and reminds fans that elite players often share common medical vulnerabilities. For the Steelers, the immediate task is adapting a pass rush and leadership structure without Watt; for the Browns and the broader AFC North, the competitive landscape shifts with each injured starter.<\/p>\n<p>Key items to watch in the coming days include official updates from the Steelers\u2019 medical staff, any adjustments reported on the team injury report, and whether Garrett\u2019s pursuit of the sack record becomes a central NFL storyline as December progresses. Week 17\u2019s rematch in Cleveland on Dec. 28 will carry added significance depending on how both teams manage health and depth between now and then.<\/p>\n<h2>Sources<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cleveland.com\/browns\/2025\/12\/myles-garrett-reaches-out-to-steelers-rival-tj-watt-in-the-wake-of-his-collapsed-lung.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">cleveland.com \u2014 Local news reporting and player quotes (journalism)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/JJWatt\">J.J. Watt X profile \u2014 family\/athlete post disclosing medical details (social media)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.steelers.com\/news\/injury-report\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pittsburgh Steelers \u2014 official injury reports and team announcements (official team)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/leaders\/sacks_single_season.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pro-Football-Reference \u2014 single-season sack leaders (sports statistics)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lead: Myles Garrett said Friday that he reached out to Steelers pass-rush standout T.J. Watt after reports that Watt suffered a partially collapsed lung following a dry-needling treatment at the Steelers facility. The update, posted on X by Watt\u2019s brother J.J. Watt on Dec. 12, 2025, said T.J. underwent surgery and had been discharged from &#8230; <a title=\"Myles Garrett reaches out to Steelers rival T.J. Watt in the wake of his collapsed lung\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/garrett-watt-collapsed-lung\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Myles Garrett reaches out to Steelers rival T.J. Watt in the wake of his collapsed lung\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9180,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_title":"Garrett reaches out to T.J. Watt after lung injury | News","rank_math_description":"Myles Garrett said he reached out to T.J. Watt after J.J. Watt disclosed a partially collapsed lung; Watt had surgery, is out vs. the Dolphins, and his recovery timeline is unclear.","rank_math_focus_keyword":"Myles Garrett,T.J. Watt,collapsed lung,Steelers,Browns","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9182","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-top-stories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9182","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9182"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9182\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9180"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9182"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9182"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9182"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}