J.J. Watt looks back at first career Texans preseason game

Jun 17, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) goes through drills during mini camp at Houston Methodist Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Richardson-USA TODAY Sports

With as good as J.J. Watt has became entering what will be his fourth NFL season in 2014, even the All-Pro defensive end was a rookie at one point “way back” in 2011.

Watt was a first round pick by the Houston Texans out of the University of Wisconsin, and he vividly remembers his first time playing in the NFL in the preseason.

Watt said to the Texans media on Thursday (in quotes provided by the Texans media dept.):

"“It was against the New York Jets. It was Monday Night Football here in Houston. It was very special. Obviously the first time you put on a game uniform in the NFL is a pretty big deal. That’s a lot of work. That’s an entire life of work. It’s what every kid growing up playing football dreams about.“Regardless if it’s preseason and you play one play, 10 plays, when you put on that uniform, it’s something special. It’s an accomplishment, whether you make it beyond that play or not, it’s an accomplishment. I have a lot of respect for anybody who makes it.”"

Who would have know that was the first night of what Watt would become in the NFL? In my opinion Watt is the best defensive end in the NFL after his first three NFL seasons.

Last season, Watt didn’t have the numbers he put up in his Defensive Player of the Year season of ’12, but nonetheless, Watt still had a very solid season in ’13.