He’s back, all right
Watt emphatically answers any lingering questions about whether he has returned to form
J.J. Watt was in an introspective mood after enduring a gruesome broken leg and a pair of back surgeries during a painful two-year span.
All of the damage left the Texans’ star defensive end experiencing the same doubts that many around the NFL attached to his future.
Could Watt get and remain healthy again? Would he ever regain his three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year form? Would he still have his trademark explosiveness and durability?
Watt emphatically answered all those questions this year. The Wisconsin native celebrated more than an AFC South division title Sunday following a 20-3 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars at NRG Stadium.
Watt is thoroughly enjoying a triumph over his surgically-repaired body, manufacturing a Pro Bowl season and recorded an AFC-high 16 sacks and led the NFL with seven forced fumbles. That included 1½ sacks, a forced fumble and four tackles Sunday as the Texans limited the Jaguars to 119 yards of total offense and six first downs An epic comeback
It’s been an epic comeback for Watt.
“There were points in the last two years where I was sitting on my couch and thought about everything,” Watt said. “I thought about never ever playing, period, again. I also thought about playing great again. You think about everything. To be here, to win a division, to play 16 games, get 16 sacks, to be out here with my guys, having a blast, enjoying it, it’s a testament to all the people who helped me get here.
“There’s so many people who helped me get here, who helped me back from those two years mentally and physically. I’m so thankful for everybody that did it, but I love that there’s still more football left to be played. I love that I’m a part of it. I’m thankful.”
The dedication and grit that Watt demonstrated was on display all year, including Sunday.
Shortly before halftime, Watt decked Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles for an eight-yard loss and forced a fumble. Then, he wore a brace on his right elbow for the remainder of the game. Watt downplayed the severity of the injury.
“On the sack-fumble, my arm just got jacked up in a couple different directions,” Watt said. “Xray was fine. I’ll get it checked out a little bit more (Monday). Obviously, went back in the game. It’s playoff football now, doesn’t matter. You can cut it off, still play.”
Watt finished the regular season with 15 or more sacks for the fourth time in his career. That represents the second-most in NFL history behind the late, great Reggie White, who had five of them
“To come back from the injuries that he’s come back from, like I’ve said 6,000 times, what else can be said about the guy?” Texans coach Bill O’Brien said. “He’s an incredible athlete. He’s got a great character, great work ethic. To do what he’s done to come back, and people talk about the leg injury.
“But it was the back injury and the other things that he dealt with over the last three years, to be able to come back and play at that level, I mean, it’s hard to put that into words what he’s done. He’s done a great job.”
Watt had 25 quarterback hits this season. He has an NFL-high 211 quarterback hits since 2011 when he arrived in Houston as a first-round draft pick.
This season marked the fourthmost sacks in franchise and individual history for Watt, trailing his 20½ in 2012 and 2014 and 17½ in 2015. Teammates not surprised
Watt is a top candidate for NFL Comeback Player of the Year along with Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck. The resurgent season doesn’t surprise his teammates.
“Same guy,” Texans veteran cornerback Johnathan Joseph said. “I saw he was putting in hard work. A lot of people see the finished product, but certain things I saw him do months ago, I knew. When I saw him doing that, I knew the type of season he would have.”
The Texans are the sixth NFL team since 1980 to qualify for the playoffs after starting 0-3.
Watt isn’t satisfied with just making the postseason, though.
“We have loftier goals; I have loftier goals,” Watt said. Especially after starting 0-3, everybody writes you off. Guys in the locker room believed, guys in the locker room never gave up. We have a lot of resiliency, a lot of perseverance, a lot of talent.”
After all he’s been through, this is a special time for Watt. He’s soaking up the moment.
“It makes it that much sweeter,” Watt said. “When you have something taken away from you, it’s that much sweeter getting it back.”