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Pittsburgh Steelers are handed injury boost as linebacker T.J. Watt 'does not require surgery and could be back in six weeks' despite walking off with a torn pectoral against the Cincinnati Bengals T.J. Watt left Steelers' win on Sunday in the fourth quarter with a torn pectoral Scans on Monday confirmed the 27-year-old would be out for at least six weeks Watt had 22.5 sacks last season and would be a massive loss for the team Alex Highsmith, also injured, is the only other linebacker on Pittsburgh's roster

By Alastair Talbot For Dailymail.Com and Associated Press

Published: 06:03 BST, 13 September 2022 | Updated: 06:03 BST, 13 September 2022

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NFL's reigning defensive player of the year and Pittsburgh Steelers' linebacker T.J. Watt does not require surgery on his pectoral and could be back in six weeks after walking off injured in the fourth quarter of a 23-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Steelers initially feared the worst for Watt, as they believe he suffered a season-ending injury during their first week of NFL action on Sunday. However, Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network provided clarity on Twitter on Monday.

'#Steelers reigning defensive player of the year TJ Watt is still waiting on more information, but the belief is his pectoral injury will not require surgery and is not season-ending, sources tell me and @TomPelissero,' Rapoport's tweet read. 'He could be back in six weeks or so.'

T.J. Watt could return from a torn pectoral in six weeks amid fears he'd be out for the year

Footage caught Watt on Sunday leaving the field after sustaining the pectoral injury, appearing to mouth the words 'I tore my pec' as he walked off.

The 27-year-old got hurt in the waning minutes of regulation. He bull-rushed his way past Cincinnati right tackle La’el Collins — ripping Collins’ helmet off in the process, a penalty that gave the Bengals a first down — and then jumped on top of Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow.

Burrow ducked under Watt and managed to get the ball