It was for the most part a gloomy, gray, rainy practice Wednesday for the Pittsburgh Steelers, who have lost four of their past five games.
Good thing a positive ray of figurative sunshine brightened the mood — and, potentially, the outlook for the Steelers.
Reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt returned to practice.
“He’s getting healthy,” Malik Reed said of Watt, a fellow outside linebacker, “and we can’t wait to have him back.”
Watt remains on the injured reserve list because of a torn pectoral muscle suffered during the season-opening win at the Cincinnati Bengals, but the announcement of his return to practice opens up a 21-day window during which he must be activated in order to return to play this season.
Watt, who also underwent a procedure for a knee injury suffered during the preseason finale, had an NFL record-tying 22½ sacks last season.
“It’s great to have him — as a teammate, as a brother — coming back,” Reed said. “We know have to be ready to go (as teammates). But we are welcoming him back and excited for it.”
Here’s a video you might like. TJ Watt working at #Steelers practice this afternoon. @937theFan pic.twitter.com/ZDgFJrZCHt
— Josh Rowntree (@JRown32) October 26, 2022
Watt took part in about a 40-minute workout before the Steelers’ prime-time game Sunday night at Hard Rock Stadium against the Miami Dolphins. Watt did agility drills that focused on running and cutting.
On Wednesday, a video filmed by a reporter from 93.7 FM and posted to Twitter showed Watt going through individual drills with teammates: running, mimicking pass-rushing moves and engaging tackling sleds.
The Steelers have had a total of five sacks over the six games Watt has missed (losing five) after they had seven with him in the lineup for the season opener.
“He’s a tremendous player, no doubt about it,” said Reed, who has been starting in Watt’s place at left outside linebacker. “And to have a player like that in his defense, it does wonders.”
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