Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt tore his pectoral muscle on Oct. 27 in a 27-24 win over the Oakland Raiders at NRG Stadium. His season was over, and now it was going to be another long road of offseason rehabilitation to get ready for his 10th professional season.
However, the recovery from that surgery progressed better than he expected. Normally, it takes three months to return to form from such an injury and procedure, but Watt was feeling better after two months. Nonetheless, there is an element of risk involved coming back from injury so soon.
“When I discuss the element of risk, I mean there’s two options: it’s going to hold up or it’s not,” Watt told reporters Tuesday. “That’s basically the way she goes, and the reason that I’m comfortable with that risk is because I know the consequences of that risk.”
Reports surfaced on Dec. 1 that the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year could make a comeback if the Texans reached the playoffs. Rules wise, it was possible given the fact the Texans still had a remaining designation to return for a player on injured reserve. Houston brought back Watt on Tuesday.
If the former 2011 first-round pick can’t hold up in the Texans’ wild-card playoff game at NRG Stadium during the weekend of Jan. 4-5, he will not have lost time in the offseason to rehab and get ready for 2020.
Said Watt: “It’s the exact same procedure, its three months recovery and we’re back in action. But I do feel very confident from what we’ve done in the weight room, from what we’ve done ballistically training, to where the strength level is compared to where it was before the injury. I’m very confident in the way that it has reacted.”
Unlike Watt’s herniated disc that ended his 2016 season and his tibial plateau fracture that cut short his 2017 season, the torn pectoral has no affect on his ability to run or take part in agility or position drills, which means he should be able to contribute immediately for Houston.
“The nice thing about this surgery was that this whole time I’ve been able to run, I’ve been able to work out my legs, I’ve been able to do agility drills, position drills,” said Watt. “So that has been a huge help both mentally and physically for this recovery. So I’m really excited about what I’m going to be able to do and to get out there and help the boys.”
Before the Texans can get to the playoffs, they have to finish off the regular season with a Week 17 rematch with the Tennessee Titans at NRG Stadium. While a win secures the No. 6 seed for the Titans, the outcome has no material impact on the Texans’ ability to get out of wild-card weekend and achieve a first-round bye.
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