Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt, in his first public comments since the incident that sent him to a local hospital Dec. 10, cleared up some of the questions around his partially collapsed lung and said Friday that he’s excited to return to the field Sunday night against the Baltimore Ravens.

According to Watt, it was a member of the Steelers’ staff who was treating him with dry needling when the accident occurred. Watt added that he doesn’t bring outside practitioners into the facility and brushed off any hard feelings toward the organization.

“I think a lot of guys, not only in this facility but across a lot of professional sports, use dry needling a lot,” Watt said Friday after practice. “It just so happened to be a fluke thing, apparently.”

The recovery process has been “very unique,” as Watt put it, but he has felt good this week in practice. While the team has listed Watt as limited the first couple of days, he has been able to work “without limitations.”

In the meantime, he has tried to simulate being back in shoulder pads, trying to get his body ready for a game after nearly a month off from playing. What better time to return than for a win-or-go-home game against the Ravens?

“I feel pretty good, honestly. I don’t know if I could say that a week ago,” Watt said. “I feel really confident about the week of practice and excited to play.”

And, for the record, Watt smiled a bit when asked if he’ll continue to use the dry needling therapy that sent him into an unexpected surgery.

“I’m gonna take a break now, for sure,” Watt replied.

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