Report: T.J. Watt will return for Steelers' next meaningful game after Sunday

Pittsburgh Steelers star edge rusher T.J. Watt is set to miss his third straight game Sunday vs. Cleveland while recovering from surgery to repair a partially collapsed lung.

However, he's set to return for the team's next meaningful game, according to an NFL Network report.

According to the report, the Steelers expect Watt to be available for their Week 18 game vs. Baltimore if Pittsburgh doesn't clinch the AFC South this weekend. If Pittsburgh (9-6) clinches with either a win Sunday or a Baltimore loss vs. Green Bay Saturday night, Watt's return would come in the Steelers' home playoff game in the wild-card round.

Watt, 31, has missed the last two games after sustaining the partially collapsed lung while undergoing a dry needling treatment that was intended to stimulate muscle recovery. The 2021 NFL Defensive Player of the Year and four-time All-Pro has seven sacks this season, raising his career total to 115 in 134 games. He is 36th on the NFL's all-time sack list and a half-sack ahead of his brother J.J. Watt.

While Watt will be out again, Pittsburgh is set to get a different linebacker, Nick Herbig, back this week against the Browns (3-12) after he missed the last game with a hamstring injury.

--Field Level Media