WATCH: TJ Watt opens up about injury rehab, his availability Sunday vs Eagles

After Pittsburgh star defender TJ Watt returned to practice on Thursday, his first since Sept. 15, the edge rusher confirmed on Friday that he could play as soon as 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.”

CLICK HERE to subscribe for FREE to the On3 YouTube channel

Steelers OLB TJ Watt says it’s “trending in that direction” he plays Sunday in Philadelphia pic.twitter.com/NqveuHt9YZ

— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) October 28, 2022

Watt nears return

Despite the latest update, Watt could end up sitting out one more week. Doing so would let him take advantage of the team’s Week 9 bye.

“I’m always going to do what’s best for the team and what’s asked of me,” Watt added.

The 2021 Defensive Player of the Year has been working his way back from a torn pec he suffered during the Steelers’ Week 1 game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Steelers have a 21-day window to either activate Watt to the 53-man roster, or he remains on the Reserve/Injured List for the remainder of the season.

Mike Tomlin’s Steelers are coming off a Sunday Night Football loss to the Miami Dolphins, which dropped the record to 2-5 on the season. Pittsburgh kicks off versus the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET. The team’s final list of inactives will come out roughly an hour and a half before game time.