T.J. Watt is still not back.
Ahead of Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles, the PittsburghSteelers decided not to put the reigning defensive player of the year on injured reserve.
He had a 21-day practice window. Watt spoke Friday for the first time since he tore his pectoral muscle in the first game of the season.
Watt said Friday that he was a practice participant and was just going about his business. I feel good about where I'm at.
Watt had surgery on his knee earlier this month.
"I've had muscle pulls before, and you feel some sort of pop in a snap and immediately know it's not good," Watt said. It took us a couple of days to figure out how bad it was.
The pectoral was close to being 100 percent, he said. According to sources, Watt was expected to come back after the bye. Watt is expected to return against the Saints in Week 10.
"If I'm coming off of an injury, I'm always going to try to find a way to get better and not just be a slouch and sit on the couch and eat potato chips and ice," Watt said. "I'm always trying to find a way so that when I come back, the acclimation period is as quick as possible, and I think I've done a good job with that." We won't know until I'm on the field.
While sitting out is difficult as a competitor, Watt knows he has to be smart about how he comes back from an injury, especially after the Steelers signed him to a record extension last year.
Watt loves football. I don't want anything else. I like to play this game. It's very unfortunate when something is taken away from you, but you can take the time to get your body right and come back.
Without Watt, theSteelers have only five sacks in six games and have failed to get consistent pressure on the quarterback.
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