The Texans star defender has been injured since late October
Watt set to return from injured reserve
Dec 24, 2019, 10:36 am
Bobby Ellis/Getty Images
He's backkkkkkkkkkk!
Designated for return
The #Texans are officially designating star DE JJ Watt to return off Injured Reserve today, sources tell me and @MikeGarafolo. A big step toward Watt returning from a torn pec.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 24, 2019
This was the first step in J.J. Watt returning to the Texans. They activated his 21-day window where he can practice which allows him to work with the team but not take up a roster spot. They can move him to the active roster at anytime.
The injury's impact
Shoulda told my pec to look out lol https://t.co/LQDVoSheEr
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) October 28, 2019
Watt tore his pectoral on the above play. It was reportedly torn off the bone and the recovery time is set to be at least three months. He will be making his return to practice roughly eight weeks after his surgery. Which, to say, is crazy.
Whitney Mercilus had a similar injury a couple of seasons ago and if the Texans had been competitive at the end of 2017 he could have returned. Mercilus though injured his pectoral about a month before Watt, making the timeline for recovery more regular.
Watt could be as close to 80 percent according to ProFootballDoc on Twitter.
Time frame for on the field
At best, Watt is playing against the five seed when the Texans host a game for wild card weekend. That is my thought. If truly healthy, a few snaps against Tennessee wouldn't be terrible but I would guess with a chance of re-injury, Watt would save that risk and any performance he has for the playoff game.
Most Popular
SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome
Listen Live
It’s starting to look like the Astros knew exactly what they were doing.
What once felt like a risky move is quickly shaping up to be a win for Houston — and maybe a defining pivot point for the franchise. In this episode, we dig into how the Astros may actually be better off in the wake of the Kyle Tucker trade, thanks to a new wave of production and smart roster-building.
Cam Smith continues to rise with another eye-catching performance, launching two home runs and making the case that he’s already ahead of schedule. Meanwhile, Isaac Paredes has quietly emerged as a legitimate successor to Alex Bregman, offering power and presence in the infield.
And while Jeremy Peña wasn’t part of the Tucker deal, his 2024 resurgence adds even more fuel to the argument that this team is thriving — not surviving. The Astros aren’t just plugging holes. They’re planning for what’s next.
We also look at the bigger picture: What if Houston had moved on earlier from other aging or underperforming stars? Could they have been ahead of the curve even sooner?
So who’s really winning this breakup — the Astros or Kyle Tucker? We break it all down.
___________________________
Looking to get the word out about your business, products, or services? Consider advertising on SportsMap! It's a great way to get in front of Houston sports fans. Click the link below for more information!