J.J. Watt could be limited in Week 1

Sep 07, 2016 at 09:10 AM

J.J. Watt will make his return to the starting lineup this Sunday against the Chicago Bears, but the All-Pro defensive end could be on a limited play count.

"I'm sure that they are going to try and put some sort of limitations on me and we're going to have that conversation as the week goes on," Watt said Wednesday. "The way that I felt in the last two practices, I don't feel it's necessary. My body feels great, my conditioning level feels great."

The three-time AP Defensive Player of the Year returned to practice this week for the first time since undergoing back surgery prior to training camp. Watt was limited in practice on Wednesday, but head coach Bill O'Brien said conditioning level was "decent" and was optimistic about Watt's progress throughout the week.

"We'll keep ramping it up towards Sunday, you know, tomorrow and Friday," O'Brien said.

Watt feels anything but limited in his recovery and said he was ready to do "anything and everything" asked of him in Sunday's game.

"I feel great," Watt said. "I feel no limitations whatsoever. My body actually feels better than it did for the second half of last season. Obviously with everything we were dealing with, I'm in a pretty good spot."

In 2015, Watt played with a broken hand, back issues, and a groin injury that required extensive surgery in January. He participated in OTAs and minicamp, but with two major surgeries this offseason, he has not played a snap in a game since he exited the Texans playoff loss to Kansas City in the third quarter.

If Watt is limited in his return to the field, he won't accept the decision lightly.

"I'm a guy that likes to play every play, likes to go out there and do whatever I can to help the team win," Watt said. "So, if they let me do that great. If they put a play count on me, I'll fight it as hard as I can."

The Texans open the 2016 season at NRG Stadium in their all-white uniforms for the annual Liberty White Out game presented by BHP Billiton. Kickoff is set for noon CT on FOX-26 and SportsRadio 610.

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