Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt is making steady progress in his rehab from back surgery.
Watt was originally reported to miss 6-10 weeks after the surgery, with September being the earliest he could return.
On Thursday, NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported Watt expects to practice next week, and the Texans star posted a picture of himself on Instagram with the caption “soon.”
Watt has never missed a regular-season game in his five seasons in the NFL. Last week, Texans coach Bill O’Brien told ESPN’s Ed Werder he was unsure if Watt could play the first two regular-season games.
But with Watt improving quickly and running on the sidelines during practice, it’s possible he might be ready for the season opener September 11 against the Chicago Bears.
