Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that Texans DE J.J. Watt underwent back surgery for a herniated disc and will open training camp on the team’s PUP list.
Early reports mentioned that Watt’s recovery time is expected to be 6-8 weeks. However, it’s more likely to require him closer to eight weeks, considering the nature of this injury, according to Rapoport.
The bad news is that a source tells Mike Garafolo that Watt’s surgery could require as much as 10 weeks to heal.
Rapoport adds that Watt first noticed the issue while working out on his own during the offseason.
If Watt ends up missing 10 weeks, it could cost him the first four weeks of the regular season.
Former NFL physician David Chao points out that even if Watt is ready to return, there’s a difference between playing and actually being 100 percent with this kind of injury. According to Chao, Watt may not be 100 percent healthy until midseason.
This is obviously terrible news for the Texans, considering that Watt has been an MVP in recent years, despite playing on the defensive side of the ball.
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.
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