Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt returned to the practice field for the first since tearing his pectoral muscle on Oct. 27 against the Oakland Raiders in a 27-24 win.
While the Texans defense may have fallen for a “trick” during the trick or treat portion of Halloween, the club got a magnificent holiday present when Watt returned to practice on Christmas Eve for the first time since sustaining the injury.
The three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year considers the return quite the Christmas gift, too.
“Just to get back on the practice field for Christmas Eve, it’s exciting and it’s a nice present,” Watt told reporters Tuesday. “They told me a couple of weeks ago that we were eyeing right around Christmas Eve, Christmas Day for when I could start doing this type of stuff. I’ve been kind of optimistically hoping for it ever since.”
On Dec. 1, reports surfaced that Watt might be able to return to the Texans if they qualified for the playoffs. As the Texans were about to face the New England Patriots on Sunday Night Football later that day, it seemed like a pipe dream. However, those hopes were buoyed by a 28-22 win, the second such win over the Patriots in club history and the first for coach Bill O’Brien, a former Bill Belichick assistant.
“It’s come, and I think the whole time, the belief that this would be possible played a huge part in my rehab,” said Watt. “Just the ability to know that there is a chance of it happening, and so I’m really excited.”
As far as where returning to practice after sustaining a supposed season-ending injury ranks, the former 2011 first-round pick could only look back on the charmed life he has led
“It’s up there, but I’m lucky,” Watt said. “I’m a very fortunate guy, I live a very fortunate life and I’m very thankful to have all the great things that I do in my life.”
