The Houston Texans battled their way to a fourth quarter comeback against the Oakland Raiders 27-24 Sunday afternoon at NRG Stadium.
Houston was already battered coming into the contest with starting cornerbacks Johanthan Joseph and Bradley Roby out along with safety Tashaun Gipson.
Throughout the contest, the Texans defense suffered an even greater loss at defensive end J.J. Watt would sustain a torn pectoral late in the second quarter. The three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year would not return to the contest, and stated on social media following the game that his season is over.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson, who threw three touchdown passes, including the go-ahead 9-yarder to push Houston ahead 26-24 with 6:26 to go in the game, offered his thoughts on losing one of the faces of the franchise.
“It’s tough,” Watson told reporters after the game. “That’s a big part of this team. But he knows that this locker room, this team, this town, and this city, Houston nation, is going to support him through his recovery. We always love him. He’s going to be right there with us supporting and helping us out.”
Watson knows what it is like to have a season cut short. In 2017, Watson’s rookie season, he sustained a torn ACL in practice on Nov. 2 that summarily ended his first year just seven games in.
Said Watson: “You hate to see, not just him, but anybody go down with an injury, especially a season-ending injury. All the work that he put in to get to this point, it’s crazy. It sucks.”
With Watt being an influential and significant part of the organization, Watson stated they would continue to keep him in their thoughts.
“But we all send our prayers towards him,” said Watson. “We love him. We’re definitely going to support him.”
The Texans finish their season series with the Jacksonville Jaguars in London, which will be the first game since Dec. 31, 2017, that Watt will not suit up for Houston.
