T.J. Watt Placed on PUP List after Hamstring Tightness during Run Test

UNITY TWP., Pa. — Steelers linebacker T.J. suffered a hamstring injury during the team’s run test on Thursday and will be put on the physically unable to perform list, head coach Mike Tomlin said.

“He experienced some tightness in the left hamstring at the completion of the last rep, so we may PUP him and put him on the PUP list, saying that he’s not available at the initial onset [Friday] morning,” Tomlin said. The team later made the speculative statement official. “He may be on for a very short period of time.”

Watt spoke with the media earlier in the day as he arrived at camp and was excited to get going.

“It feels like we’ve been away from this place for a really long time,” he said. “It’s really refreshing to be back. Overall, everyone is just going to be super excited to have a fresh start to the season.”

Watt and the rest of the Steelers that ran were able to complete the test, but he said he was suffering some tightness afterward.

Several veteran Steelers, notably quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, were not required to run, with Tomlin citing long-term relationships with players providing trust that they’ve arrive to training camp in sufficient condition.

Other than Watt, the Steelers appear to be relatively healthy as regular practices begin on Friday. With Watt on the PUP list, they do have an open spot on the 90-man roster if they want to bring another player in.