Fresh off of his first Pro Bowl season, Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson is preparing for just his second season as Week 1 starter.
While the preseason is set to begin in earnest shortly with training camp kicking off in a matter of days, No. 4 has spent his time off preparing for what could be a new career year for the former Clemson Tiger.
“My main focus is really just trying to master my crafts, mentally, physically,” Watson told UPROXX in a recent interview. “And then also just make sure I maintain my health. This is my first offseason where I can have a full offseason so I can be able to eat right, train right. You know, be well-rested. I don’t have to focus on an injury and trying to get back.”
Heading into this offseason fully healthy will be extremely beneficial for the signal-caller, and he admitted that things are very different as he enters year three.
“My rookie year I was doing all this media and campaign and traveling, trying to see what team I would get to and try to learn their offense, so all those things are the biggest things that I’ve been focusing on and cherishing,” said Watson.
With this being his first “regular” offseason, given that he was coming out of pre-draft workouts his rookie offseason and overcoming an ACL injury in his second offseason, Watson has had to adjust his approach. But by all accounts, it has been beneficial for the Pro Bowler.
Said Watson: “Most of the time, my first offseason, I was rehabbing, so I didn’t really get to do the things on the field because I was very limited. Times where I tried to watch film and things like that, I had limited time before I had to do something else.
“So I was really trying to find my way and figure out my routine. But now, having a full offseason to help me to build a routine was big.”
After becoming the first player to record over 4,000 passing yards (4,165) and 500 rushing yards (551) in the same season in NFL history in 2018, Watson has a great deal to live up to this year. However, with a healthy offseason to kick things off, you wouldn’t bet against him.
