Houston star JJ Watt broke his left leg Sunday night in the Texans’ home game against the Kansas City Chiefs, the highest profile casualty on a day with no shortage of injuries around the NFL.
The team announced that Watt sustained a tibial plateau fracture. The defensive end was injured while being blocked midway through the first quarter and fell to the ground.
Watt remained on his hands and knees for a couple of minutes while trainers checked on him. They flipped him onto his back and were looking at his left leg. He was then helped to his feet and looked to be in a lot of pain and didn’t appear to be able to put any weight on the leg as he was helped off the field by two Texans officials.
The three-time Defensive Player of the Year returned this season after missing the last 13 games of last season after his second back surgery.
He remained on the sideline under a tent for a few minutes before being taken to the locker room on a cart.
About 30 minutes later, television footage showed Watt walking on crutches to an ambulance before sitting on a stretcher, being moved into the ambulance and taken away.
New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr injured his left ankle in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers. Sources told ESPN that it was a fractured ankle that will require surgery. Beckham’s stablemates in New York’s wideout corps were also hurt when Brandon Marshall was carted off with an ankle sprain and Sterling Shepard limped off, also with an ankle issue.
Others touched by the injury bug included New York Jets running back Bilal Powell (calf), Miami Dolphins wide receiver DeVante Parker (ankle) and Tennessee Titans left tackle Taylor Lewan (knee).
Houston linebacker Whitney Mercilus also also injured in the first quarter and was ruled out with a chest injury.
