It looks like J.J. Watt’s season is over.
Watt had been placed on injured reserve this week with a back injury, but the Texans had held out hope that Watt could return at some point this season.
Those chances dropped significantly when Watt underwent back surgery Thursday.
Texans’ Pro Bowl DE J.J. Watt underwent back surgery today and it is expected to be a season-ending procedure, per league source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 30, 2016
The 27-year-old Watt, a four-time Pro Bowler and First Team All-Pro and the NFL’s two-time reigning Defensive Player of the Year, underwent back surgery in July and missed training camp and the preseason. He had 1.5 sacks through three games this season. At that pace he would have fallen short of double-digit sacks for the first time since 2011, his rookie year.
The Texans (2-1) currently lead the AFC South and appeared to be running away with the division. Without Watt, that might not be so automatic.
