The Houston Texans got J.J. Watt back Week 1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars after he missed most of 2016 due to a back injury, but the defensive end suffered a hand injury in his first game back and was taken to the locker room.
J.J. Watt goes to locker room with injured finger vs. Jaguars
The severity of J.J. Watt’s finger injury isn’t yet known, but he returned in the second half.
Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports
Shortly after leaving, the Texans announced Watt was probable to return and he did make his return to the field in the third quarter.
After the game he brushed off the injury, even if it sounds pretty sounds.
Watt, 28, is a three-time Defensive Player of the Year, but played just three games in 2016 before he was shut down for the year due to back surgery. Prior to leaving against the Jaguars, he had one tackle in the first half against a Jaguars offense that leaned heavily on Leonard Fournette en route to a 19-0 lead at halftime.
What would losing Watt mean to the Texans defense? Without Watt for the majority of 2016, the Texans’ defense was still great. It finished No. 1 in the league in yards allowed and carried a poor offense to a 9-7 record and a trip to the postseason.
But that doesn’t mean the Texans are better without Watt. If he returns to the form of 2015 and prior, he’s one of the best and most dominant defensive linemen in the NFL. Fortunately for the Texans, a finger injury — no matter how severe — isn’t likely to slow down Watt much.
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