Does Texans star J.J. Watt have another Defensive MVP season in him?

J.J. Watt has been unable to overcome the injury bug in recent years but could see at least one more year of defensive dominance.

In his prime, no defensive end was as terrifying as J.J. Watt. From 2011-2016, he did not miss a single game, earning four consecutive Pro Bowl appearances.  Watt was so good that he was named Defensive Player of the Year three times and a part of the All-Decade team.

The next two years saw a very different J.J. Watt. Injuries sidelined him for consecutive seasons and it would not be until 2018 that he had another complete season. In it, he was incredible once again and seemed to be on track for a return to consistency.

A torn pectoral in 2019 limited his action and sparked doubt about Watt’s future prospects in the NFL and of whether he can have an MVP-type season again.

J.J. Watt’s injuries are behind him and dominance ahead.

After describing how good he felt after last year’s playoffs and the additional time to prepare this offseason, Watt seems to be in his best shape since 2018. He has rushed back too many times before and we may get to see a fully-healthy Watt for the first time in a long time.

His performance is also yet to take a hit. Watt plays over 90 percent of snaps and in each of his complete seasons, the numbers have been astonishing. There are no signs of slowing down either.

The loss of D.J. Reader will be significant for the Texans, shifting more of the focus over to Watt. However, an improved secondary may provide the extra seconds that can lead to MVP-like numbers. Also add in the fact that the Texans offense deserves a bit more respect, presenting more opportunities to thrive on the other side of the ball.

All Watt needs is one good season to reenter the ranks of the NFL’s best. He may not be what he once was, but whenever he is on the field, that has been the case. Expect it again in 2020.