Mike Tomlin is optimistic to have injured T.J. Watt available against Ravens in Week 18

Watt missed Pittsburgh's past three games

Mike Tomlin is optimistic regarding T.J. Watt's availability for the Pittsburgh Steelers' Week 18 showdown with the Baltimore Ravens that will decide the AFC North title. 

Watt missed Pittsburgh's last three games after undergoing surgery to repair a partially collapsed lung suffered while getting treatment at the team facility. He went to Pittsburgh area hospital after he experienced discomfort in his chest after a dry needling treatment session. 

"Optimistic about his potential inclusion in this game," Tomlin said of Watt. "We'll work him up throughout the course of the week, and let the amount of participation and the quality of participation be our guide in terms of whether or not he's a participant, but certainly more optimistic this week than I have been in previous weeks." 

The 31-year-old Watt is in the middle of his ninth season with the Steelers, who selected him with the 30th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. A seven-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro, Watt won NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2021 after tying the league's single-season record of 22.5 sacks. Watt, who has led the NFL in sacks on three separate occasions, is the Steelers' career leader with 115 sacks. He surpassed brother and future Hall of Famer JJ Watt on the NFL's career sack list this season. 

In 13 games this season, Watt has seven sacks, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and an interception. 

With Watt out, the Steelers received solid play from fellow outside linebackers Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig and rookie Jack Sawyer. Highsmith had two sacks in Pittsburgh's Week 17 loss to the Browns, while Sawyer recorded his second career interception. Herbig is third on the team with 6.5 sacks. He did, however, drop a potential interception during Sunday's loss in Cleveland. 

The Steelers will be without tight end Darnell Washington, who underwent surgery to repair a broken arm that was sustained during Sunday's loss to the Browns. Pittsburgh will also continue to be without wideout DK Metcalf, who recorded a season-high 148 receiving yards during the team's Week 14 win over the Ravens. 

The winner of Sunday's game decides which team makes the playoffs and which one goes home until the 2026 season.