After season-ending injuries in back-to-back years, J.J. Watt seems exceptionally motivated to get back on the field this time around. The three-time AP Defensive Player of the Year is currently rehabbing from his tibial plateau fracture suffered on Oct. 8 against Kansas City last season.
"J.J.'s doing really well," head coach Bill O'Brien said at the Annual League Meeting in Orlando. "J.J. has a great attitude. He's a very, very positive guy. He's been in a great mood the whole offseason about where he's at. Obviously working very hard. Just like I've always said about J.J., I would just tell you that watching him and seeing him in the building every day, I would never bet against J.J. Watt."
Watt, who started five games in 2017, had returned from a back surgery that limited him to just three games in 2016. O'Brien is optimistic about Watt's prognosis and his return this time. Watt has been rehabbing with Deshaun Watson this offseason and regularly posting updates of his progress.
"J.J. Watt is a generational player in this league and he'll be back," O'Brien said. "He's going to be back and he'll be back to full strength and I just watch the way he is, that's why I feel so good about him. He's very positive about where he's at. He knows exactly what he needs to do to get back. I think it's a little bit different than another injury maybe that he had. He just has a real good idea of where he's at and what he needs to do to get back. He's working very, very hard."
The Texans players will return on April 16 for the start of the nine-week offseason workout program.
