Steelers' T.J. Watt recounts how he tore his pec last season

Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt is one of the very best players in all of football when he's completely healthy. And when he's not at 100%, he's still better than most. That version of Watt was witnessed by Steelers fans for the vast majority of the 2022 season. The former Defensive Player of the […]

John Sheeran — Cincinnati Bengals News Writer
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Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt is one of the very best players in all of football when he's completely healthy. And when he's not at 100%, he's still better than most.

That version of Watt was witnessed by Steelers fans for the vast majority of the 2022 season. The former Defensive Player of the Year tore his pec in Week 1 against the Cincinnati Bengals, forcing him to miss half the year before returning as quick as possible. 

It's a memory that's still very fresh, and very painful, for Watt as he enters his seventh year in Pittsburgh. 

The season-altering injury came very late in what would be a walk off win for the Steelers. According to Watt, the incident was entirely avoidable, which only kept him thinking back on it.

“I had Joe Burrow locked up, and like my arm got stuck behind me. And that’s how I tore my pec," Watt explained on the Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger Podcast. "The amount of times I’ve replayed that play in my mind, like if I just kept my hands low, there’s no hands to the face. Then, if I just stay on my feet and wrap him up and take him down, like, game’s over, pec is fine. The amount of times that I’ve drove myself nuts thinking like that.”

One small change of course could've been the difference between Watt finishing up a fantastic game on a high not, and missing the following seven games on Injured Reserve. It was the first time in his Hall of Fame career he missed extended time.

Despite missing the ensuing two months of action, Watt managed to turn in a solid year. He ended up with 5.5 sacks and over 30 recorded pressures, presumably with a pec that wasn't entirely healed.

Needless to say, Watt will be extra focused on staying healthy in 2023.  

Featured image via © Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports

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