Imagine enduring excruciating pain and a partially collapsed lung due to a routine treatment gone wrong—all while being one of the NFL’s most dominant players. This is exactly what Pittsburgh Steelers’ star outside linebacker, T.J. Watt, experienced during a dry-needling session at the team facility. In his first interview since the incident, Watt opened up about the harrowing experience, shedding light on the risks of a treatment many athletes rely on. But here’s where it gets controversial: despite the severity of the injury, Watt holds no grudges against the Steelers organization. Is this a testament to his professionalism, or should there be more accountability for such a preventable mistake?
The incident occurred ahead of the Steelers’ Week 15 game against the Miami Dolphins, forcing Watt to miss the team’s last three games. According to ESPN’s Brooke Pryor, Watt confirmed the dry-needling session was performed by a Steelers employee, yet he expressed gratitude toward his doctors and the team’s staff. But this is the part most people miss: dry needling, while distinct from acupuncture, carries serious risks—like a punctured lung—if the needle is misplaced or inserted too deeply. That’s precisely what happened to Watt, leading to emergency surgery and a grueling recovery process.
In his own words, Watt described the aftermath: ‘I didn’t feel right shortly afterwards. I was in a significant amount of pain, ended up going to the hospital, and as you guys saw, I needed surgery. The recovery was unlike anything I’d experienced before.’ Despite the ordeal, Watt is set to return to the field this Sunday for a high-stakes matchup against the Baltimore Ravens, a game that could decide the AFC North title. When asked if he’d continue dry needling, Watt smiled and said, ‘I’m gonna take a break now, for sure.’ But the question remains: should athletes reconsider the risks of such treatments?
Dry needling involves inserting thin needles into trigger points in muscles to alleviate pain and tension. While it’s a popular recovery method, Watt’s case serves as a stark reminder of its potential dangers. Is the reward worth the risk? And what measures should teams take to ensure player safety during these procedures? Watt called the incident a ‘fluke thing,’ but it’s hard not to wonder if more oversight is needed.
The good news is that Watt is healthy and ready to contribute when the Steelers need him most. Yet, the incident raises broader questions about athlete safety and the treatments they undergo. Should there be stricter protocols for dry needling? Or is this simply an unavoidable risk in high-performance sports? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—this is a conversation that’s far from over.
