There is nothing that simulates playing in an actual NFL game than preseason football, a meaningless exhibition contest that carries more liability than return on investment. Still, NFL players may need the snaps in live action to get ready for the regular season.
How many snaps does Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt need to get ready for the regular season? Even better: does he even need the reps at all?
“I’ve done it both ways,” Watt told reporters Thursday at Houston Methodist Training Center. “It doesn’t really matter to me either way. I’ve done it where I haven’t played any preseason games, I’ve done it where I’ve played in three of them, so it doesn’t matter to me.”
Watt has not played a down for the Texans through two preseason games. With the club facing the Dallas Cowboys Saturday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, there is an expectation the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year may see the field in what is considered the “dress rehearsal” for the regular season.
Said Watt: “It never hurts to get some live snaps just to get yourself in the rhythm, little things — a game uniform is different than a practice uniform, I think a game adrenaline is a little different, tackling somebody, little things.”
The Texans did allow Watt to see the field during the club’s third game of the 2018 preseason at the Los Angeles Rams, and there was more anxiety heading into that particular contest than now. Watt was coming off of a season where he fractured his left tibial plateau, playing in only five games. This was a followup to a season where played just three games due to a herniated disc.
In 2019, Watt will defer to coach Bill O’Brien.
“I’ve done them both ways and it doesn’t bother me if I don’t play at all, so whatever Coach wants, I’ll do,” Watt said.
