Houston Texans: The precaution J.J. Watt will take ahead of his return

Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt will be likely returning for the first game of the playoffs. What precaution will he be taking ahead of time? Look.

The Houston Texans actually have something to play for this Sunday afternoon in a game that has been flexed to later in the afternoon with a 3:25 p.m. CST kickoff. We’ll all be scoreboard-watching as the Kansas City Chiefs, who currently hold the No. 3 seed in the AFC, will be taking on the Los Angeles Chargers.

Although it’s expected for the Chiefs to prevail, if they don’t there’s an outside chance that the Houston Texans could leapfrog the Chiefs to nab the 3rd seed and likely face the Pittsburgh Steelers in the opening round of the playoffs.

The team is currently slated to likely matchup with the Buffalo Bills in the first round but since that opponent is complete from top to bottom, they can cause a ton of problems for the Houston Texans and it will be a tough bout to boot.

But quite honestly, it doesn’t matter who this team plays, I’m hoping that they’re resilient despite the opponent and that they prevail on to the next round. The goal for this season should be to win MULTIPLE playoff games but with the task that’s set ahead of them, that’s not necessarily a guarantee, so they have to go out and earn it.

Speaking of the postseason, it’s apparent that defensive end J.J. Watt will be partaking in the festivities, returning early from a pectoral injury that typically takes three to four months to recover from.

Watt has been out since October rehabilitating himself from the injury and the team has now designated for him to return and should be added to the 53-man roster ahead of the playoff game the week after next.

Watt is not eligible to come back for their Week 17 matchup because the one that’s on injured reserve is required to miss eight games and this Sunday will be the eighth game but still making eligible to participate in the playoffs.

According to the Chron’s Aaron Wilson, there’s a slight risk for him to re-injure himself so he will

More from House of Houston

be wearing a protective sleeve during games to help prevent the injury from resurfacing.

However, if Watt were to tear the pectoral again, he could have the surgery once again and still be ready to return for the 2020 season. So although there’s a risk with his early return, the rewards are far greater with his presence.

Watt, as well as the rest of the Houston Texans’ brass, think so as well.

I admire Watt for doing this because he certainly doesn’t have to but we’ve come to know him as an athlete over this past decade and we know that it was paining him not being able to go out and help his team.

Let’s hope that he can do that now as he’s knocking the rust off in practice — we’ll see!

Next. Texans' trigger too quick on Will Fuller's $10.2M option. dark

Until then, Angelo Blackson, Brandon Dunn, Charles Omenihu, Carlos Watkins and Joel Heath will be around to fill-in admirably for his void.

Watt has amassed 24 tackles — 15 solos — along with 4.0 sacks, four tackles-for-loss, 20 quarterback hits, three passes defensed, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble through his first eight games this season before his injury.

Home/Houston Texans