Report: TJ Watt tells reporters he will play Sunday vs Saints with no snap count

Pittsburgh Steelers star edge rusher TJ Watt told reporters he is going to be playing and doesn’t expect to be limited to a snap count, according to NFL Network’s James Palmer.

Watt hasn’t played for Pittsburgh since injuring his pectoral muscle in Week 1. With the Steelers sitting at last place in the AFC North heading in to a Week 10 game against the New Orleans Saints, Watt coming back on defense could be game changing.

“It’s been a long time coming. I feel very very good about the week that I’ve had,” Watt said according to Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

In the game he played this year — the opener against the Cincinnati Bengals — Watt had a sack and an interception, plus two batted passes, all before leaving early with an injury.

Not that there was any doubt that having the reigning Defensive Player of the Year in the league, a four-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro back in the lineup was going to be a boon for Pittsburgh.

Watt recently shared some details about his rehab after making a return to practice

Prior to the Steelers game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Watt returned to practice and felt like he was getting close to playing.

After Watt returned to practice, his first since Sept. 15, the edge rusher confirmed that he could play as soon as that Sunday versus the Eagles. Asked directly if he will suit up, Watt said, “I don’t know, we’ll have to see.”

“In totality, it’s just about getting my body back to playing,” Watt told reporters after practice on Friday. “There’s a lot of aspects that go into playing an NFL football game and I feel like I’m going in that direction.”

Watt laughed after a reporter asserted that he should feel very fresh after sitting for much of the season.

“I feel good,” the former Badger said. “The day was a good day and this week has been a good week for me and I just want to continue going the right direction.”

On3’s Nikki Chavanelle contributed to this report