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J.J. Watt issues statement on heading to injured reserve

By Niccolo Hilgendorf

Sep 22, 2016; Foxborough, MA, USA; Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) heads for the bench after a New England Patriots touchdown during the second half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 22, 2016; Foxborough, MA, USA; Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) heads for the bench after a New England Patriots touchdown during the second half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports /
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J.J. Watt had some words on adversity for his followers on Twitter.

Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt was placed on the injured reserve list Wednesday. The three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year re-injured his back in a Week 3 loss to the New England Patriots. It’s a tough blow for Watt, who at 27 years old is one of the most durable athletes in the league.

It will be the first time that Watt misses a game in his six-year NFL career. On Wednesday, the Texans star issued the following statement on his trip to the injured reserve coming up.


It’s not the first time Watt has dealt with an injury, though. Last season, on December 9, he broke his hand and played three games with a cast on. He’s also dealt with torn muscles and a herniated back disk during the same season, but was never held out of a game. During the offseason he had surgery for the back injury, which had gotten worse. This caused him to not only sit out training camp but also miss the preseason, however, he was back in uniform for his team’s season opener.

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Watt was selected by the Texans with the 11th overall pick in the 2011 draft. He has played 83 straight games for them, and his absence is a huge blow to Houston’s defense. His ability to disrupt passes has made him a dominant force in the league. Last season, he had 17.5 sacks to lead the league and he has tallied 76 sacks over his career.

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The Texans will sign veteran Antonio Smith to replace Watt, who is expected to miss at least two months as he recovers from the injury. It’s a tough injury to rehab from, especially for a football player. But knowing J.J., we’ll see him back on the field as soon as he possibly can, in a full body cast if necessary.

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