Once again, T.J. Watt was on the field during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on Wednesday.
With a win-or-go-home game looming in four days, Watt’s Pittsburgh Steelers teammates are heartened that it is increasingly appearing as if Watt will be available for it.
“It’s going to be awesome for us,” fellow outside linebacker Alex Highsmith said of Watt’s return to game action. ”He’s our captain. He’s our leader. So to have him back is definitely going to be awesome.”
Highsmith, of course, did not declare with certainty that Watt will be in uniform for Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Baltimore Ravens that will decide the AFC North championship. No one with the Steelers has, and Watt is not expected to speak publicly until after practice Friday.
That’s the same day that the league-mandated status report for Sunday’s game will be released by the Steelers. Watt has missed the three games because of a partially collapsed lung suffered during a dry needling treatment three weeks ago Wednesday.
Watt returned to practice last week, going all three days in a limited capacity.
“It’s been awesome having him back at practice this week — the way you see the joy in him because he truly loves his game,” Highsmith said. “I know it’s been killing him to be out these past few weeks, and so having him back would definitely be awesome for us.”
During his weekly news conference Tuesday, coach Mike Tomlin expressed optimism that Watt could be available against the Ravens.
5 other starters limited
In addition to Watt, a quintet of starters who are dealing with injuries practiced in a limited capacity Wednesday: cornerbacks Brandin Echols and James Pierre, left guard Isaac Seumalo, inside linebacker Malik Harrison and receiver Calvin Austin III.
Pierre (calf) has missed the past three games, Seumalo (triceps) the past two, and Echols (groin) and Austin (hamstring) did not play in the Steelers’ most recent game at Cleveland on Sunday.
Tomlin on Tuesday expressed an expectation that any or all could play in Baltimore.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers (wrist), special-teamer Ben Skowronek (hand) and long snapper Christian Kuntz (knee) continue to practice through nagging injuries.
