JJ Watt Discusses Threatening Staph Infection, Future With Texans

J.J. Watt has suffered a long list of injuries and illnesses throughout his NFL career, and now he has opened up about what he believes was probably the worst one.

JJ Watt Discusses Threatening Staph Infection, Future With Texans

The 27-year-old Houston Texans defensive end recently discussed a staph infection that nearly ended his career and his life one year ago.

Watt, a three-time Defensive Player of the Year, suffered a broken hand, two torn abs, three torn adductor muscles, and herniated discs during the 2015 season alone.

But the four-time all-pro told The Players’ Tribune, “The scariest was probably the staph infection.”

In October 2015, Watt told his trainer about bumps he noticed on his knee. He was then rushed to the hospital for antibiotic treatment.

Watt said, “team doctors told me that if our trainer hadn’t recognized the problem so quickly, I could have lost my leg.”

ABC News’ Dr. Richard Besser said, “Staph infections are spread among teams very easily. They’re spread through contact, also spread in the locker room through surfaces people can sit on, through razors, through sharing towels.”

Worries about this type of illness are growing in the NFL, particularly following the outbreak in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ locker room that led to three players who contracted staph infections.

Former Bucs placekicker Lawrence Tynes said: “This infection is [was] just eating me up inside. It can kill you.”

In 2015, New York Giants tight end Daniel Fells nearly had his foot amputated because of a staph infection.

“I remember walking into the locker room after the game and just collapsing on the training table,” Watt said in his Players’ Tribune piece, called ‘Am I Done?’ “My body was completely shot, with nothing left to give. As the trainers hooked me up to an IV, one of the guys walking past joked, “You alive?”

Nevertheless, the defensive end said this infection won’t stop him from continuing to play football.

“The kid in me is back,” he said. “Am I done? Hell, no. I’m just getting started.”

Watt is currently appearing in commercials for Bose noise-cancelling headphones.

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)