Watt prefers sharing weekly award with Covington
Texans defensive end J.J.
Watt was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week.
Watt recorded nine tackles, 1½ sacks, one forced fumble, two quarterback hits and one tackle for a loss during Monday’s win over the Tennessee Titans.
This marks the seventh time that Watt has won the award and the first since the 2015 season.
Earlier this season, Watt was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Month for October.
Watt said he would be happy to split the award with defensive end Christian Covington, who recorded a career-high 2½ sacks Monday.
“I told him, ‘You can have half of the fake award that we don’t get,’ but he had a hell of a game,” Watt said. “It doesn’t mean a whole lot to me. It’s cool. I appreciate it and I’m very thankful for any honor, but I don’t have any posters up on my wall about Defensive Player of the Week awards.”
Watt leads the AFC with 11½ sacks, ranking second in the NFL.
A three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Watt refuses to say he’s all the way back to his old self after being limited to eight games and 1½ sacks the previous two years due to a broken leg and back problems.
“No, I cannot,” Watt said. “I have very high expectations for the way I play and where I want to be. I don’t know if I’ll ever say it, but I’m going to continue working to get there. The goal’s always to be better than you were. You don’t ever want to just be the same.”
LB Cole returns from injuries
When Texans inside linebacker Dylan Cole dislocated his wrist in September, he dealt with a lot of pain and the uncertainty of whether he would play again this season.
Cole underwent surgery on his wrist as well as arthroscopic knee surgery and was placed on injured reserve.
Now that he's been activated, Cole is set to contribute again even though he's still wearing a cast. Cole had a conversation with coach Bill O'Brien and general manager Brian Gaine before they concluded he could play again.
“We ultimately came to the decision that I feel good enough and I look good enough to play,” Cole said. “So, that’s the plan. I don’t think they’re going to put anybody on the field that doesn’t look like they’re ready to play.
“I’m confident. I’m glad they’re confident in me as well. I’m very giddy about the opportunity and I just want to make the best of it.”
Cole recorded nine tackles in three games before being injured.
Foreman itching to get back on field
A year removed from tearing his Achilles tendon, Texans running back D'Onta Foreman feels like he's regained his explosiveness and proclaimed he's physically prepared to play again.
Although he has been practicing under a 21-day window to be activated, Foreman remains on the reserve-physically unable to perform list.
The Texans have until Dec. 6 to either activate Foreman, a third-round pick in 2017, or have him miss the remainder of the season.
"I feel good, I feel great," Foreman said Wednesday. "I'm ready to go. I've been practicing. I feel very explosive. I'm cutting really good. I feel ready to go."