HOUSTON (AP) – A person familiar with J.J. Watt’s condition says the Houston Texans’ star defensive lineman had back surgery Thursday and it is expected to miss the rest of the season.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on Thursday night on condition of anonymity because the team hasn’t announced the surgery.
Watt was placed on the injured reserve Wednesday with a back injury.
It’s his second back surgery in two months after he missed training camp and Houston’s four preseason games after surgery in July to repair a herniated disk. He started each of the team’s three regular-season games and was hurt again Thursday night against the New England Patriots.
Watt, who has won Defensive Player of the Year for the past two seasons, will miss a game for the first time in his career Sunday after starting 83 straight games since he was drafted in the first round in 2011.
The news was first reported by ESPN.
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