Steelers LB T.J. Watt (lung) practices for first time since procedure

Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt practiced on Wednesday for the first time since undergoing a procedure to fix a collapsed lung he sustained at the team's facility Dec. 10.

The standout edge rusher went through some aspects of the team's Wednesday practice, although ESPN reported that he was doing extra cardio activities instead of group work engaging with tackling dummies.

Watt's improved status comes a day after Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin said he was "hopeful" that the defensive mainstay would be able to ramp up activities this week. Tomlin has been less willing to share a potential timeline for Watt's return to games and if it could happen as early as Sunday at Cleveland.

Watt, 31, has missed the last two games after sustaining the partially collapsed lung while undergoing a dry needling treatment that was intended to stimulate muscle recovery. The 2021 NFL Defensive Player of the Year and four-time All-Pro has seven sacks this season, raising his career total to 115. He is 36 on the NFL's all-time sack list and a half-sack ahead of his brother J.J. Watt.

The Steelers (9-6) have gone 2-0 without Watt and have a two-game lead in the AFC North with two games to play. One more win or one more Baltimore loss would clinch their first division title since 2020-21.

Fellow Pittsburgh linebacker Nick Herbig, who missed last week's game vs. Detroit with a hamstring injury, also returned to practice on Wednesday.