(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt (90) tackles Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers star outside linebacker T.J. Watt is in the hospital after experiencing discomfort in his lungs.

Coach Mike Tomlin said the seven-time All-Pro and 2021 NFL Defensive Player of the Year was sent to the hospital for evaluation on Wednesday after experiencing discomfort while receiving treatment.

Watt was scheduled to undergo testing on Thursday, Tomlin said.

“He and I communicated last night,” Tomlin said. “He was comfortable and that’s all I have really at this point.”

The Steelers had the day off on Wednesday, an adjustment to their schedule this week to accommodate playing against Miami on Monday night in Week 15. It’s common for players to come in during their days off to receive medical treatment.

Tomlin saw Watt in the cafeteria on Wednesday, which is when Tomlin said he became “aware” of what he described as Watt’s “lung situation.”

Watt had been on the injury report last week with a toe problem but was ready in time to make his 56th straight regular-season start for the Steelers (7-6).

Asked if Watt had been dealing with any sort of prior injury that could be in any way related to the discomfort, Tomlin said, “Not to my knowledge, particularly in game or after the game, nothing.”

Watt has led the NFL in sacks three times in his nine seasons, all with the Steelers. He tied a league record in 2021 when he finished the year with 22 1/2 sacks.

Watt has seven sacks in 2025 and recently surpassed his older brother and three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt on the league’s career sack list when he recorded his 115th last month.

“I haven’t talked to TJ but I would never bet against anybody in the Watt family of being able to deal with something small or large and getting back on the field as quickly as possible,” Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said.

While Watt has just seven sacks — putting him on pace for the fewest over the course of a season in which he’s played at least 13 games since his rookie year in 2017 — he remains a singularly disruptive force that requires constant attention from opponents, usually in the form of double teams.

Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig will start against the Dolphins if Watt is unable to go. Highsmith, Watt’s longtime running mate, has endured a bumpy season of his own. Highsmith has missed four games due to various injuries, but he also had the game-sealing sack in the final moments of last Sunday’s win at Baltimore that pushed the Steelers back atop the AFC North.

“When he’s healthy, boy, he’s good,” defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said. “And I thought he was really good last week. … Obviously, you know, everybody remembers the sack to end the game, but the dirty work stuff that he did all game in terms of setting edges and really being really physical at the point of attack, that’s the stuff that he really brings.”

Highsmith’s concern isn’t about his role but Watt, who is dealing with what Highsmith called a “scary situation.”

“I’ve just been praying for him,” Highsmith said. “I know he’s getting better.”

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Courtesy of the Associated Press/ Caption for Photo: Former Pittsburgh Steelers great Brett Keisel waves a Terrible Towel before a game on Dec. 23, 2023, in Pittsburgh. (AP)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) According to a release from PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh today, the Professional Bull Riders (PBR), announced today that it will return to PPG Paints Arena on February 13th-14th, 2026, for the PBR Lovestruck Buck Off, the ninth stop of the 18-event 2026 PBR Unleash The Beast tour and a heart-pounding Valentine’s Day weekend like no other. Along with seeing two nights of the top bull riders and the fiercest animal athletes in the world, two-time Super Bowl champion defensive end and Pittsburgh Steelers legend Brett Keisel will marry eight couples there on February 14th, 2026 as part of PBR’s upcoming campaign called “Till Dirt Do Us Part.”

Couples can click here if they would like to apply to get married at PBR by submitting a short video explaining why they should be selected to say, “I do” and the application deadline is January 7th, with selected couples notified by late January. According to that same release from PPG Paints Arena, here is some more information about this event:

Chosen couples will receive a one-of-a-kind Valentine’s Day experience, including:

• A free wedding ceremony officiated by Brett Keisel during the February 14th, 2026 PBR premier tour event
• A pair of Ariat boots for each bride
• Premium chute deck access during the event
• A wedding photo with Keisel
• Additional VIP elements

Keisel, who spent his entire 13-year NFL career with the Steelers, has deep ties to both the city of Pittsburgh and to cowboy life. Raised on a Wyoming ranch, Keisel learned to ride, rope, brand cattle and handle livestock from an early age. During the 2025 PBR debut, he served as honorary team captain for the Arizona Ridge Riders during a PBR Teams exhibition game at PPG Paints Arena and welcomed bull riders to UPMC Children’s Hospital, where he has helped raise more than $1 million through his annual “Shear Da Beard” charity event.

Tickets are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com and PBR.com.

Fans can secure seats for:

• Friday, February 13th, 2026 – 7:45 p.m.
• Saturday, February 14th, 2026 – 7:45 p.m.

EVENT FAST FACTS

• 750 tons of dirt brought in for the arena floor to transform PPG Paints Arena into a bull-riding mecca.
• The dirt is a special clay-sand blend establishing a firm enough surface for the bulls to buck hard but soft enough so that every rider is not injured when thrown like a rag doll.
• More than 50 bucking bulls at each event
• It takes 7 semi-trucks to haul in the equipment for the event.
• 36 hours of setup by a crew of 30
• Average bull weight: 1,700–2,000 lbs.
• Average bull rider weight: 140 lbs.

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – New York Mets pitcher Gregory Soto throws during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Sept. 21, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura, File)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates and two-time All-Star reliever Gregory Soto have agreed to a $7.75 million, one-year contract, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on Tuesday night.

The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the agreement was subject to a successful physical.

Soto gives the Pirates an experienced left-handed option in a bullpen that will get a makeover in 2026 after relievers Colin Holderman and Dauri Moreta were designated for assignment last month.

The 30-year-old Soto is 15-34 with a 4.26 ERA and 56 saves over seven seasons with five teams. He was an All-Star in 2021 and 2022 for Detroit. He spent 2025 with Baltimore and the New York Mets, who acquired him in late July just before the trade deadline.

Soto struggled in New York, going 1-3 with a 4.50 ERA in 25 appearances. His departure is the second significant subtraction from the Mets bullpen in free agency after closer Edwin Díaz agreed to a three-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers earlier Tuesday.

Pittsburgh appears to be settled at the back end of the bullpen, where Dennis Santana performed well after two-time All-Star David Bednar was traded to the New York Yankees last season. Soto gives the Pirates a pitcher who has filled a variety of roles, including closer.

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey (44) breaks up a pass intended for Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf (4) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — A brief hospital visit won’t keep Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf from playing next week against Miami.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Metcalf was hit in the abdomen at some point during Pittsburgh’s 27-22 victory in Baltimore on Sunday and remained behind when the issue persisted after Metcalf was treated with over-the-counter remedies during the game.

“It got probably progressively worse after the game and and so I’m appreciative of our medical experts,” Tomlin said. “We just exercised an abundance of precaution. We didn’t want to get him in the air without having a complete understanding about what he was dealing with and they did a good job of that.”

Metcalf finished with season highs in receptions (seven) and yards (148) as Pittsburgh regained control of the AFC North. The two-time Pro Bowler also filled in as a gunner on punt coverage late in the game after special teams ace Ben Skowronek exited with an injury, something Metcalf hadn’t done since high school.

“I just think that’s what time of year it is, that’s what type of game it was,” Tomlin said.

Tomlin added that Metcalf is “moving in the right direction” and he doesn’t anticipate the issue jeopardizing Metcalf’s availability when the Steelers try to win their 23rd straight home Monday night game.

The news isn’t as promising at left tackle. Starter Broderick Jones was placed on injured reserve two weeks ago. Andrus Peat, who filled in for Jones, is in the concussion protocol and backup Calvin Anderson is out after getting injured in practice.

Dylan Cook took over for Peat against Baltimore and would get the nod if Peat doesn’t exit the protocol in time.

“He certainly has worked hard and has been professional,” Tomlin said of Cook. “I loved his his mindset when when he went in. Happy for him. Oftentimes one man’s misfortune is another man’s opportunity and he may get another opportunity this week. We’ll see where the week leads us.”

Rookie defensive lineman Derrick Harmon could return after missing two games with a knee injury unrelated to the knee injury that forced him to sit out Weeks 1 and 2.

Linebacker Malik Harrison and tight end Darnell Washington are also in the concussion protocol. Cornerback James Pierre is dealing with a calf injury.

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Penguins’ Evgeni Malkin (71) returns to the bench after scoring during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Seattle Kraken in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Penguins placed center Evgeni Malkin on injured reserve Tuesday with an upper-body injury.

The move comes after the 39-year-old Malkin sat out a shootout loss to Dallas on Sunday. Malkin, in the final season of his contract with the Penguins, is off to one of the better starts of his 20-year career.

The Russian has eight goals and 21 assists in 26 games for surprising Pittsburgh, which began the season with modest expectations but is firmly in contention in the competitive Metropolitan Division.

The Penguins also placed forward Blake Lizotte on injured reserve with an upper-body injury. Lizotte has three goals and two assists in 27 games.

The club described Malkin and Lizotte as both week to week.

Pittsburgh recalled forwards Danton Heinen and Sam Poulin from their American Hockey League affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to fill out the roster ahead of Tuesday night’s visit by Anaheim, the start of a five-game homestand.

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh quarterback Mason Heintschel (6) throws during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Miami, Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, in Pittsburgh (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Pitt’s college football team will travel to Annapolis, Maryland to take on East Carolina University to play in the Go Bowling Military Bowl at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. That game will start at 11 a.m. on December 27th, 2025 and the 8-4 Panthers will take on the 8-4 Pirates. ESPN will televise the game nationally.

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – In this Aug. 9, 2019, file photo, Pittsburgh Steelers Ryan Shazier, center, watches warmups before an NFL preseason football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Pittsburgh. The Pittsburgh Steelers have placed the inside linebacker Ryan Shazier on the reserved/retired list. But the team says the move doesn’t rule out the possibility of Shazier playing again. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic, File)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Cincinnati, OH) December 4th, 2025, was an emotional day for former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier, who visited UC Medical Center in Cincinnati, Ohio that day, which marked eight years to the day since he suffered a spinal cord injury on December 4th, 2017, during an NFL game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Shazier reunited with members of the multi-disciplinary care team who treated him at UC Medical Center during his visit, and he also spent time with current patients who are going through spinal cord injuries to offer, encouragement, insight and support drawing from his own journey of rehabilitation.

(File Photo of New Brighton Area School District Logo and Rochester High School Athletics (Ram) Logo: Credit for Photo: Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of New Brighton Area School District and Rochester Area School District)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Rochester, PA) After the Rochester school board reconvened during its meeting on December 1st, 2025 with four new board members getting sworn in, it decided to table discussions of a potential co-op for sports between the Rochester School District and the New Brighton School District again to a later date and to not move forward with it. The boards met on November 17th, 2025 about this agreement and the Rochester board voted 6-1 in favor of tabling to both receive input and to gather more information, while the New Brighton board voted unanimously in a 9-0 vote to move forward.