J.J. Watt is steadily getting better.
"I'm eager to get out to practice every day because I know that every rep I take is so important, especially right now," the defensive end said Wednesday. "Even in practice today, I mean just each rep I take I feel stronger, I feel better. You get your eyes back. You get everything back."
Watt had back surgery just before training camp, and didn't practice or play with his teammates in August. He was cleared physically during Labor Day weekend, and then played 88 percent of the snaps on Sunday against Chicago.
Watt emphasized that his mind isn't yet on what will happen in the game versus Kansas City this weekend. It's more about what he'll do in Thursday's practice.
Watt's head coach is optimistic about how the 3-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year will play against the Chiefs.
"He got more into what was going on in the game and got more up to the speed of the game," Bill O'Brien said. "I think you'll see him really come out and play well on Sunday."
Watt mentioned after the win over the Bears that he shook some "rust" off as the game progressed. Kansas City head coach Andy Reid dismissed any talk of Watt and rust.
"He looked pretty good to me," Reid said. "There wasn't a whole lot of rust on him I don't think. He looked pretty good. He's a good football player."
Watt and the Texans will practice Thursday and Friday. They'll face the Chiefs at noon CT on Sunday at NRG Stadium.
The Houston Texans roster in photos.
DB, Grayland Arnold, #35
DL, Thomas Booker, #56
TE, Pharaoh Brown, #85
RB, Rex Burkhead, #28
OL, A.J. Cann, #60
LB, Blake Cashman, #53
DL, Maliek Collins, #96
WR, Nico Collins, #12
WR, Brandin Cooks, #13
OL, Austin Deculus, #76
WR, Phillip Dorsett, #4
DL, Michael Dwumfour, #50
K, Ka'imi Fairbairn, #7
OL, Kenyon Green, #59.
DL, Rasheem Green, #92
DL, Jonathan Greenard, #52
LB, Kamu Grugier-Hill, #51
FB, Troy Hairston, #34
LB, Jake Hansen, #49
DL, Demone Harris, #94
OL, Charlie Heck, #67
LB, Neville Hewitt, #43
DL, Kurt Hinish, #93
TE, O.J. Howard, #83
OL, Tytus Howard, #71
DL, Jerry Hughes, #55
WR, Tyler Johnson, #14
P, Cameron Johnston, #11
TE, Brevin Jordan, #9
DB, Desmond King II, #25
LB, Christian Kirksey, #58
DL, Roy Lopez, #91
OL, Justin McCray, #64
QB, Davis Mills, #10
WR, Chris Moore, #15
OL, Jimmy Morrissey, #79
DB, Eric Murray, #23
DB, Steven Nelson, #21
RB, Dare Ogunbowale, #33
DL, Ogbo Okoronkwo, #45
DB, Jonathan Owens, #36
RB, Dameon Pierce, #31
DB, Jalen Pitre, #5
OL, Scott Quessenberry, #54
LB, Jalen Reeves-Maybin, #44
DB, Tremon Smith, #1.
DB, M.J. Stewart, #29
DB, Derek Stingley Jr., #24
OL, Laremy Tunsil, #78
LB, Garret Wallow, #32
LS, Jon Weeks #46
An image from the Aug 19, 2022 preseason week 2 game between the Houston Texans and the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, CA.
