Cleveland Browns All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett revealed that he reached out to Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt after hearing the news that Watt was hospitalized with a lung injury.
Watt suffered a partially collapsed lung after undergoing a dry needling treatment session at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on Wednesday, his brother J.J. Watt announced via social media on Friday .
Dry needling is an acupuncture-like physical therapy treatment used by physical therapists to treat pain and movement impairments.
"Well since you asked that, I reached out to him. I don't have his number or anything, but I reached out to him to see if he's all right," Garrett said on Friday. "So, I'm hoping for the best."
In addition to playing for rival teams, Garrett and Watt have had a personal rivalry over the years. But it's strictly on the field. They're usually competing with one another for NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
As competitors they have a mutual respect for one another.
"At the end of the day, our teams may be rivals and they might create a rivalry between us, but he's not my enemy. I'm hoping for the best for him and his health and I'm hoping he comes back soon or whatever, or whatever it is," Garrett said. "You said it's a collapsed lung? That's more than I knew. I just knew it was a lung injury. Well, I'm praying for the best for the Watt family."
Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt at practice on Oct. 23, 2025. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
J.J. Watt also confirmed that his brother had successful surgery to repair the damage and that he is being released from the hospital today.
T.J. Watt is considered unlikely to play this Monday when the Steelers host the Miami Dolphins , but he is expected to make a full recovery. His specific timeframe for return remains to be determined. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network , he is expected to play again this season.
Watt had been exercising at the team's facility during a players' off day on Wednesday before undergoing the treatment. After he complained of extreme pain, and initial testing revealed no obvious damage, he was taken to a hospital for observation and further testing.
The injury appears to be similar to the one suffered by Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Tyrod Taylor in 2020, when a member of the team's medical staff inadvertently punctured his lung while attempting to administer a painkilling shot. Taylor ended up missing four weeks.
The NFLPA is aware of the details surrounding the incident, and could begin an investigation.
Alan Saunders Contributed.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Myles Garrett Reached Out to T.J. Watt: 'Praying for the Best'
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