J.J. Watt's rehabilitation from an early autumn back surgery is finished.
The defensive end underwent a procedure at the end of September and spent the bulk of the fall and early part of winter going through the rehab process. But during a Wednesday morning press conference at the Gatorade GX Gym in downtown Houston, Watt explained he's moved into a new phase of preparation for 2017.
"We're now past the whole rehab process," Watt said. "So, from this point forward my offseason is really a regular offseason now. So, it's full training."
The 3-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year recorded 1.5 sacks and eight tackles in three 2016 contests before he was placed on injured reserve. The road back to the gridiron now is focused on strengthening a select part of his body.
"There's a lot of added core work to my workouts just to make sure that I really solidify my core and make sure that that's fully locked in to protect my back again in the future, but other than that I'm fully training like I've regularly been training in the offseasons," Watt said.
2017 will be his seventh season in the NFL. Watt doesn't intend to rush back, though.
"I've changed my workouts," Watt said. "I've tweaked my workouts to make sure that I do everything possible to be smart about the way I do things moving forward."
Watt and the Texans will begin the team's organized offseason conditioning program in mid-April at NRG Stadium and the Houston Methodist Training Center.
The Houston Texans roster in photos. (Updated 2/26/2021)
ILB, Tyrell Adams #50
TE, Jordan Akins, 88
DT, Auzoyah Alufohai, #98
P, Bryan Anger, 9
CB, Cornell Armstrong, 30
C/G, Beau Benzschawel #62
DT, Ross Blacklock #90
ILB, Curtis Bolton #47
DT, Andrew Brown, #97
TE Pharaoh Brown #85
C, Cohl Cabral #72
WR, Randall Cobb #18
ILB, Dylan Cole, 51
CB, Gareon Conley, 22
WR, Brandin Cooks #13
WR, Isaiah Coulter #82
WR, Keke Coutee, 16
CB, Keion Crossen, 35
ILB, Zach Cunningham, 41
DE, Brandon Dunn, 92
OLB, Duke Ejiofor, 53
ILB, Kyle Emanuel, 56
K, Ka'imi Fairbairn, 7
TE, Darren Fells, 87
CB, Mark Fields II #39
G, Hjalte Froholdt #77
OL, Zach Fulton, 73
CB, Phillip Gaines #29
FB, Cullen Gillaspia, 44
OLB, Jonathan Greenard #52
ILB, Nate Hall, 48
NT, P.J. Hall #96
WR, Chad Hansen, #17
CB, Vernon Hargreaves III #26
T, Charlie Heck #67
RB, Dontrell Hilliard, #22
OL, Tytus Howard, 71
RB, Buddy Howell, 38
RB, David Johnson #31
CB, Lonnie Johnson, Jr., 32
T, Roderick Johnson #63
LS, Anthony Kukwa #45
LB, Jacob Martin, 54
QB, AJ McCarron #2
QB, Josh McCown, 3
LB, Benardrick McKinney, 55
OLB, Whitney Mercilus, 59
WR, Steven Mitchell, Jr., 11
S, A.J. Moore, 33
S Eric Murray #23
DE, Charles Omenihu, 94
S, Jonathan Owens, 36
RB, Scottie Phillips, #40
G/T Brent Qvale #76
WR, Damion Ratley, #19
CB, John Reid #34
S, Justin Reid, 20
OLB, Brennan Scarlett, 57
OL, Max Scharping, 74
S, Michael Thomas #28
TE, Kahale Warring, 81
DL, Carlos Watkins, 91
QB, Deshaun Watson, 4
LS, Jon Weeks #46
