Confident Watt brings the heat to practice
Walking onto the Texans’ practice field Thursday morning, defensive end J.J. Watt wore his helmet tilted back above his trademark intense game face.
Activated from the physically unable to perform list — a shortlived stay of four days — the threetime NFL Defensive Player of the Year had no intentions of missing any time.
When the Texans opened training camp, No. 99 was his usual disruptive self. He batted away passes from quarterback Deshaun Watson. He hustled from drill to drill.
And Watt alternately displayed power and athleticism as the 30year-old Wisconsin native prepares for his ninth NFL season.
Watt couldn’t hide a smile when asked how he feels.
“I feel great,” Watt said. “I’ve had a really good offseason working with the guys, and I’m just really happy to be out here. I’ve been planning on practicing the first day the whole time, so I just think it was a precautionary thing.
“I think it was probably for those early training camp days, they didn’t want me to have to go out there and do all of that, and just make sure I was 100 percent ready to go. I’m excited to be playing football.”
As challenging as it is to practice against Watt, Watson is happy to have a worthy foil. Watt is capable of quickly closing ground on the elusive quarterback. Watt has 51 passes defended and 92 sacks in his career.
From Watson’s perspective, it’s a daily, competitive learning experience practicing against Watt.
“He’s annoying, that’s what he is,” Watson said. “He tipped two or three balls of mine, but it was a great lesson and it was good to have him back. He just changed the whole dynamic of defense and what we’re about, being physical and being disruptive in the passing game and run game. I learned something about myself and using my eyes and not staring down defenders.
“That was one tip. Whenever he saw me looking in a direction, he kind of stopped and he just kind of stands there and times his jump. So I learned that lesson. Overall, he’s been good.”
Unlike a year ago, Watt enters training camp with confidence in his body.
Watt entered last year’s camp having missed the majority of the two previous seasons after undergoing surgeries to repair a broken leg and a herniated disk in his back.
Following a resurgent 2018 season in which he led the NFL with seven forced fumbles and recorded an AFC-high 16 sacks, Watt is supremely confident in the state of his game.
“I’m in a great place,” Watt said. “I think that over the years you grow and you mature and you learn. With the training I’ve had this offseason, with the way that my body feels and with where I’m at, I’m really excited. I’m confident and I’m comfortable with who I am and what I’m going to accomplish.
“When I step on that field, that’s what matters. I could tell you I feel great, I could tell you I’m going to have 350 sacks this year. But when I go out there on the field, that’s what’s going to prove if I’m going to be good or if I’m going to suck. We’ll find out.”
Although Watt emphasized he’ll utilize camp and the preseason to shed any accumulated rust, there were no telltale signs of inactivity Thursday.
It looked like vintage Watt. “Last year, I had an idea of what I wanted to accomplish and I hoped I could accomplish it, but I wasn’t 100 percent sure because I hadn’t really played in a couple of years,” Watt said. “So this year I have a lot of confidence going in. I have a lot of excitement, I have a lot of energy, I have a solid base where I know where I’m at. Whereas last year, I was kind of feeling it out to see where I was at.”
Watt showed last season he can still manhandle blockers.
On Thursday, Watt was constantly defeating blocks.
“He was in the backfield quite a bit, so it was good to see him back there,” Texans coach Bill O’Brien said. “From an offensive perspective, it’s always hard when he’s back in there because we’re trying to execute the play.
“He’s an awesome player, great guy, a guy that’s really put the time in in the offseason, and he’s really looking forward to having a great year. It’s great to have him back out there.”