The Cleveland Browns are gearing up to take on the Chicago Bears after a surprising loss to the Tennessee Titans in Week 14. With their playoff hopes gone, the Myles Garrett chase for the NFL single-season sack record has been on the forefront of the minds of Browns fans. In the leadup to Sunday, though, one of Garrett’s greatest rivals suffered a scary injury.
Pittsburgh Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt was sent to a Pittsburgh hospital after experiencing discomfort at the team facility, where it was revealed he had a partially collapsed lung. According to his brother, J.J., Watt underwent surgery to repair the injury.
“Yesterday TJ had successful surgery to stabilize and repair a partially collapsed lung suffered Wednesday after a dry needling treatment session at the facility,” Watt posted on X. “Recovery timeline is still TBD, but all went well and he is being released from the hospital today. He and his family are very appreciative of everyone’s kind words and well wishes.”
Garrett was asked about this on Friday, to which he said he reached out to the Watt personally.
“Well since you asked that, I reached out to him,” Garrett said via Mary Kay Cabot. “I don’t have his number or anything, but I reached out to him to see if he’s all right. So, I’m hoping for the best. 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 was also surprised to find out it was a partially collapsed lung that Watt was dealing with.
“You said it’s a collapsed lung?” Garrett asked. “That’s more than I knew. I just knew it was a lung injury. I’m praying for the best for the Watt family.”
Garrett and Watt have had a rivalry over whom the best edge rusher in the NFL is for the better part of the last five years. Watt tied the NFL record for sacks in a season with a 22.5 sack season in 2021, and Garrett is 2.5 sacks away from tying that number.
