Watt makes quick, uneventful, healthy return
4CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Dipping his shoulder while jamming his right arm into a blocker to execute a classic rip move, Texans star defensive end J.J. Watt delivered his trademark push Wednesday night to penetrate the Carolina Panthers’ backfield.
It was a quick and uneventful night during a rare preseason game for the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year as he completed his comeback from a pair of back surgeries that sidelined him for the majority of last season.
Although Watt didn’t make any big plays or register any statistics during his brief appearance, it was a successful return for the four-time Pro Bowl selection, as he played just five snaps before exiting the game and being replaced by rookie Carlos Watkins. During Watt’s brief appearance, the Panthers gained one first down before kicker Graham Gano missed a 50-yard field goal attempt that hit the left upright.
“I feel good,” Watt said. “It was like a tease. I don’t have a very good comparison. It was like a tease. It was just like four or five plays, get yourself in there, get your feet wet, then they take you out. But I feel good. I’m glad I got some game action.”
During previous sasons, Watt had been held out of preseason action as a precautionary measure.
The most important statistic involving Watt at this stage of the preseason involves his health. Watt hasn’t experienced any setbacks with his back after undergoing two microdiscectomy procedures last year.
Watt, 28, is passing all litmus tests involving full-contact work. He has received some days off at training camp in West Virginia.
Watt took a more patient, deliberate approach to his rehabilitation this offseason after being limited to three games, eight tackles and 1½ sacks last season.
As Watt heads into his seventh NFL season, the strategy appears to be paying dividends as the NFL’s top-ranked defense gets back one of the most dominant players in the league. For his career, Watt already has 379 tackles, 76 sacks and 15 forced fumbles.
“It’s nice to be out with the guys,” Watt said. “It’s nice to get out there and get some game action, knock a little of that rust off, run around get some, get the body acclimated. It felt really good. I’m excited.”
Too many sacks allowed
Coach Bill O’Brien wasn’t happy about his quarterbacks being sacked five times and hurried 12 more times by the Carolina Panthers’ defense.
Rookie Deshaun Watson was sacked three times, and veterans Tom Savage and Brandon Weeden were sacked once apiece.
“There’s some things we have to correct, like a lot of pressures,” O’Brien said. “We really concentrated on ourselves coming into this game, didn’t do much prep work.
“They did a good job with some of their pressure packages, and we’ve got to do a good job of watching that and teaching our guys what happened there.”
Veteran left tackle Duane Brown continues to hold out because of a contract dispute.
Penalties an issue out of the gate
The Texans committed 12 penalties for 91 yards. They were penalized on offense, defense and special teams.
On their first touchdown drive, a 16-yard run by Alfred Blue, they had to overcome three penalties — a false start and two holding calls.
“Let’s start with the penalties,” coach Bill O’Brien said about what they need to correct. “Last year, we were one of the least-penalized teams in the league. We had 12 for almost 100 yards.
“Those are things we have to stop doing, or we’re never going to win anything.”
A happy return for Quessenberry
Guard David Quessenberry came off the bench on the left side for his first appearance since his three-year battle against cancer.
Quessenberry’s family came from California to watch him play. They surprised him on the field before the game.
“To come from where he’s come from, it’s incredible for him to play in an NFL game,” coach Bill O’Brien said. “All he’s been through and how special he is to this organization — to play in an NFL game is a pretty big deal.”
Rough outing for Nelson
Texans backup cornerback Robert Nelson had a difficult time keeping up with Panthers wide receiver Damiere Byrd.
Byrd beat Nelson for a pair of touchdown catches, including a 50-yard pass down the middle of the field.
The Texans are hoping that Nelson will provide quality depth after losing cornerback A.J. Bouye during free agency to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Nelson is the fourth cornerback on the depth chart, behind starters Johnathan Joseph and Kareem Jackson and former first-round draft pick Kevin Johnson.
“The safety was down,” Byrd said. “I knew I had a corner on his own, so I was ready.”