CB Johnson undergoes foot surgery; D-line coach resigns
Texans rookie cornerback Kevin Johnson underwent foot surgery Wednesday in Charlotte, N.C.
Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Robert Anderson, a foot and ankle specialist who is the Carolina Panthers’ team doctor, performed the procedure.
A stress fracture in his fifth metarsal of his foot, commonly known as a Jones fracture, was repaired. The Jones fracture was discovered with a month left in the season, and Johnson played through the injury.
Johnson also is scheduled to have surgery in two to three weeks for a broken left wrist he played with during the Texans’ 30-0 playoff loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. He left the game after recording three tackles.
Johnson is expected to recover in time from both injuries to participate in offseason practices.
A first-round draft pick from Wake Forest, Johnson started 10 of 16 games played and recorded 52 tackles, one interception
and nine passes defended.
Weaver candidate to fill vacancy
Former Texans defensive end Anthony Weaver is a candidate to replace defensive line coach Paul Pasqualoni.
Pasqualoni coached the defensive line last season and resigned to move back to the East Coast to be close to his family.
Weaver, who played for the Texans in 200608, coached Cleveland’s defensive line the last two seasons under Mike Pettine.
Pasqualoni, 66, came to the Texans from the Chicago Bears. The longtime head coach at Syracuse also had two tours with the Dallas Cowboys. He replaced Bill Kollar, who was let out of his contract by Bill O’Brien to move to Denver and coach the Broncos’ defensive line.
Weaver, 35, was Baltimore’s second-round pick in 2002 and played four seasons with the Ravens before signing with the Texans. After beginning his coaching career in college, he was an assistant with the New York Jets and Buffalo before his two seasons with the Browns.
Watt earns defensive award
Texans defensive end J.J. Watt has been named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year by the Pro Football Writers of America NFL. It’s the second consecutive year he’s earned the award.
Watt joins Hall of Fame defensive ends Bruce Smith of the Buffalo Bills and Reggie White of the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers as the only three-time winners.
Watt is the first player in NFL history to win the award two years in a row.
Watt led the NFL with 171/2 sacks despite playing with a broken hand and also undergoing sports hernia surgery after the season. He led the league with 29 tackles for losses and 50 quarterback hits.
Watt also had 76 tackles, 57 solos, eight passes defended, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
Watt leads the NFL with 741/2 sacks, 132 tackles for losses and 209 quarterback hits since entering the NFL in 2011 as a first-round draft pick out of Wisconsin.