J.J. Watt Expected To Return This Season

December 21st, 2019 at 2:10pm CST by Sam Robinson

The rumblings about the Texans having their future Hall of Fame defensive end back this season have increased to the point that is now the expectation. It’s now in play J.J. Watt returns during the regular season.

If the Texans need to win in Week 17 to make the playoffs, Watt is expected to be back at practice in advance of the regular-season finale and to suit up in that game, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com notes (video link). Should Houston clinch a playoff spot in its game in Tampa Bay, the expectation is Watt will return to game action in the team’s playoff opener.

The Texans brought back tight end Ian Thomas from IR earlier this season but have saved their second return designation for Watt. The 30-year-old standout suffered a torn pectoral muscle in Week 8 and is eligible to return to practice at any point. He can return to game action beginning in Week 17.

Watt, who also missed most of the 2016 and ’17 seasons due to injury, is “determined” to make it back this season. Were Watt to aggravate the pec injury, the ensuing surgery would not sideline him for any portion of the 2020 campaign.

A first-team All-Pro in five of the six seasons he made it through, Watt was leading the NFL in pressures and quarterback hits when he went down early against the Raiders in October. The only player to twice register 20 sacks in a season, Watt has four this year to go along with 20 QB hits.

Houston can clinch the AFC South title with a win today and can also lock up a first-round home game with a Titans loss to the Saints on Sunday. This would point to Watt returning in the Texans’ January game. Either way, the return of one of the league’s best players will be a major factor in the Texans’ prospects to make a deep playoff run.

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