Pittsburgh Steelers defensive cornerstone T.J. Watt will be absent from the 2026 Pro Bowl Games, as the league's reigning sack leader continues to recover from a severe late-season injury. Watt suffered a collapsed lung (pneumothorax) in early December 2025 as a direct result of a rib injury sustained during a game. The team has confirmed that the injury has not fully healed, making participation in the Pro Bowl events an unacceptable risk. Watt was voted to the Pro Bowl for the seventh consecutive season, a testament to his dominant 2025 campaign, which once again saw him lead the NFL in sacks.
The injury, while not expected to impact his availability for the 2026 regular season, underscores the physical toll of his relentless style of play. The collapsed lung marked a scary and significant medical event, requiring careful monitoring and a extended recovery period. His absence from the Pro Bowl is a precautionary measure to ensure he is at full strength for the offseason program and training camp under new head coach Mike McCarthy. Watt's health remains paramount to the Steelers' defensive aspirations for 2026. The team will also be monitoring the recovery of other players who finished the season on Injured Reserve, such as offensive tackle Calvin Anderson (knee) and quarterback Skylar Thompson (hamstring), as they begin their offseason rehabilitation protocols.