J.J. Watt Has Back Surgery; Texans Hopeful DE Will Play Season Opener

Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt underwent back surgery this week, sources stated on Thursday, in what was the second surgery in six months for the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

J.J. Watt Has Back Surgery; Texans Hopeful DE Will Play Season Opener

The team remains optimistic, however, that Watt, 27, will be prepared to play at the start of the regular season. Nevertheless, sources also stated the defensive end will miss the pre-season. He will open training camp, which begins July 31, on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.

Watt has never missed a regular-season game. He didn’t play during last year’s pre-season to preserve his health.

The news of his surgery was first reported by John McClain of the Houston Chronicle. 

NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported that the expected recovery time for the operation is six to eight weeks, while NFL Media’s Mike Garafolo said the timeframe could be up to 10 weeks.

Watt, the Texans’ 11th overall Draft pick out of Wisconsin in 2011, played last season with a herniated disk in his back, and he previously had surgery for the same issue. Watt also suffered a broken hand, a groin tear, and five torn muscles (three adductor, two abdominal) in his core area last season. He had a major surgery to repair the muscles after the end of last season and had been rehabbing that.

The defensive end reached a breaking point with the torn muscles during the Texans’ wild-card playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs. In the third quarter, Houston pulled Watt. Despite his protests, team trainer Geoff Kaplan did not allow him to re-enter the game.

Despite all these injuries, Watt won his third defensive player of the year award (2012, 2014, 2015) for his 17.5-sack 2015 season. He also recently promoted a new Reebok shoe, which was released July 15, at an event in New York.

The Texans begin their season in eight weeks, on Sept. 11 at home against the Chicago Bears.

With Brock Osweiler, Lamar Miller and rookie speedsters Will Fuller and Braxton Miller adding playmaking ability to a punchless offense, the Texans have been a trendy pick to capture the AFC South crown and perhaps even make a run at the Super Bowl.

HOUSTON, TX – JANUARY 09: J.J. Watt #99 of the Houston Texans warms up before playing against the Kansas City Chiefs during the AFC Wild Card Playoff game at NRG Stadium on January 9, 2016 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)