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A little less than one month ago, we learned that J.J. Watt underwent back surgery. Houston Texans fans immediately started speculating how long their beloved team would be without its best player, scrambling for information and trying to rationalize how the defense would cope without the single biggest playmaker in the NFL today.
Since then, there hasn't been much in the way of substantive updates about the progress Watt was making in his quest to return to the field. This morning, Ed Werder gave the parched masses a little water.
#Texans HC Bill O'Brien encouraged by @JJWatt recovery from back surgery after Wed update. Told me still unsure Watt plays first 2 RS games
— Ed Werder (@Edwerderespn) August 19, 2016
Asked Bill O'Brien about @JJWatt (1/2): "He’s really on an upward trajectory. Everything is going in the right direction.'' ...
— Ed Werder (@Edwerderespn) August 19, 2016
O'Brien: "I don’t think we can predict whether he’ll be ready for Week 1 or Week 2, but he’s going to be ready sooner rather than later.''
— Ed Werder (@Edwerderespn) August 19, 2016
Granted, it's not much, and it's still ambiguous. But it may mark the first time we've seen acknowledgement from the Texans, at least publicly, that Watt could miss regular season snaps. While many Texans fans had accepted that as a real possibility given the timing of the surgery and the necessary rehab, O'Brien's comments, qualified as they may be about the uncertainty of timing Watt's return, are the strongest sign yet the Texans' defense may face the Bears and Chiefs without Watt around to wreak havoc.
As we sit here today, what's your best guess as to when J.J. Watt returns to action for the Texans?
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