J.J. Watt Could Miss Patriots-Texans In Week 3 After Back Surgery
BOSTON (CBS) -- Houston Texans All-Pro defensive end J.J. Watt could miss up to ten weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a herniated disc on Thursday. His status for the Texans' Week 3 game at Gillette Stadium against the Patriots could be in doubt.
John McClain of the Houston Chronicle first reported the surgery news on Twitter, saying Watt should be ready for the season. Later, Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network tweeted the 10-week timetable before Ian Rapoport said eight weeks is the best-case scenario. Rapoport previously said that the back injury in question happened "very recently."
Watt will start Texans training camp on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. Should he return on the low end of his timetable, he could return in time to play on September 22 at the Patriots, which will mark nine weeks since the surgery.
Watt has yet to record a sack in three career regular season games against the Patriots, recording 12 total tackles. He recorded half a sack and four total tackles in the Texans' 2012 AFC Divisional round loss at Gillette Stadium.