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Texans coach O'Brien confirms Watt is out for the year

Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt officially ended his 2016 season on Thursday and underwent a second back surgery to fix a herniated disc.

Watt underwent surgery on Thursday after consulting a specialist, having been placed on injured reserve a day earlier. There was initially speculation that he might return in December, but that is apparently no longer the case.

This is the second time in three months that JJ Watt had a procedure done on his back. He started each of the team's three regular-season games and was hurt again last Thursday night against the New England Patriots.

Watt had played in all 16 games in each of his first five National Football League regular seasons, and picked up the AP's Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2012, 2014 and 2015. Mariota isn't sure why he's played so much better on the road, where three of his four career victories have come. He has 45 passes defended in his six-year career. "We really need to put our heads together and get after it and get better for the next game, no doubt about it".

Watt posted on social media Wednesday that the IR move was "necessary in order for me to return to 100 percent and play at the level that I am capable of playing at".

Watt has played through various injuries in the past, including torn core muscles and a broken hand last season. Barring a setback, wide receiver Kendall Wright also should make his season debut in Houston.

Clowney, 23, has battled his own injuries over his first two seasons, including a torn meniscus in his right knee on his professional debut that limited him to four games that year.

The hope is obviously that O'Brien can give the Texans offense some type of a boost, and specifically get the likes of Miller, Hopkins and Fuller producing even more than they already are.

Recall that O'Brien was responsible for play-calling his first year in Houston, until George Godsey was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2015 and took over those responsibilities.

"It'll be good to go back and see some faces I haven't seen in a little while", Johnson said.

stayontheblack.com

Texans coach O'Brien confirms Watt is out for the year