Texans DE J.J. Watt Expected To Play In Season Opener

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Texans DE J.J. Watt is expected to play in team’s Week 1 opener against the Bears.

Watt has clearly made great progress from the back surgery he underwent for a herniated disc a few months ago.

Texans HC Bill O’Brien had said previously he was encouraged by Watt’s progress.

“He’s really on an upward trajectory,” Bill O’Brien said, per Ed Werder. “Everything is going in the right direction. I don’t think we can predict whether he’ll be ready for Week 1 or Week 2, but he’s going to be ready sooner rather than later.”

Initial reports said that Watt could miss between 6-8 weeks. However, it appears as though he could be out as along 10 weeks, depending on how he heals moving forward.

Watt, 27, is in the third year of his eight-year, $108.88 million contract that includes $51.8 million guaranteed. He stands to make a base salary of $10.5 million for the 2016 season.

In 2015, Watt appeared in all 16 games for the Texans and recorded 76 tackles, 17.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, a recovery and eight pass defenses. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 2 interior defender out of qualifying players.