Houston Texans: More bad news, J.J. Watt has back surgery

According to NFL Insider Ian Rapoport and John McClain of the Houston Chronicle, Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt recently had back surgery and will start camp on the PUP list

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It’s been a rough stretch for Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt this offseason. After an injury riddled season, the star player had to have surgery to repair a torn groin that forced him to leave the team’s 30-0 playoff loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Now reports are surfacing via NFL Insider Ian Rapoport and the Houston Chronicle’s John McClain that Watt has had to undergo yet another surgery, this time to his back.

Thankfully for Texans fans, all reports are indicating that despite heading to the Physically Unable to Perform List, Watt should be good to go for the season opener. As long as he is healthy, there should be no set backs because Watt hardly participates in any preseason games as it is.

The biggest concern is the toll it will take on the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year. In 2015 Watt suffered through five different core muscle tears as well as a broken hand. He managed to play in every game still, en route to his third Defensive Player of the Year award, but would not have been able to go had the team advanced to the second round of the playoffs.

Watt has already admitted he’s unsure of how long he can last physically in this game. In the Texans 3-4 system Watt is often matched up against two and sometimes three offensive linemen. He has been incredibly durable but it’s obvious the physical beating is leaving a mark on the athletic freak.

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The 27-year old Watt enters his sixth NFL season with 371 career tackles, 74.5 sacks and one interception. He’s also the only NFL player to ever record 20-or-more sacks in a season twice in his career.