Texans reportedly won’t rush JJ Watt back for start of season

The Houston Texans are optimistic that J.J. Watt will not end up missing any regular season games, but that does not mean they are planning to bring him back before he is 100 percent healthy.

According to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report, Watt’s status for Week 1 and Week 2 remains uncertain because the Texans do not want to rush him back and risk his long-term health. While the team is reportedly confident that Watt will be “completely healthy” this season, there is no reason to risk the reigning Defensive Player of the Year suffering a setback.

Watt was originally expected to miss 8-10 weeks after undergoing back surgery last month. If he takes the full 10 weeks, that puts the timetable for his return at around Week 3. If he ends up on the lower end, he could be good to good in Week 1 against the Chicago Bears.

Given Watt’s history of playing through pain and injuries (see this for example), we wouldn’t be surprised if he convinces the team to let him suit up Week 1. However, a back injury is something that can linger. Watt has to be smart so he’s not dealing with it all season.