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J.J. Watt’s consecutive-game streak could be in serious jeopardy
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In the first five years of his career, J.J. Watt has been an iron man.
The former Badger has never missed an NFL game. He played through a broken hand, a groin injury, a herniated disk and torn muscles galore. And that was just last year.
It appears it finally caught up to him:
JJ Watt has undergone back surgery and will start camp on physically unable 2 perform but should b ready 4 season.
— John McClain (@McClain_on_NFL) July 22, 2016
Then, however, NFL Network’s Ian Rapaport reported that Watt would be out 6-8 weeks. The Houston Texans kick off 2016 against the Chicago Bears on Sept. 11, which is seven weeks away.
But apparently, this could be a more lengthy recovery process than originally suggested:
On JJ Watt, texted with a source informed of his prognosis who pumped the brakes on early optimism. Cautioned it could take up to 10 weeks.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) July 22, 2016
Garafolo went on to say that it was a matter of pain tolerance if Watt elected to come back on the front end of the recovery time. We know his pain tolerance is through the roof, but this will be unlike anything he’s had to deal with at the start of the season.
The Defensive MVP might be too valuable to rush back for the start of the season, even if he insists on keeping his streak alive. But then again, he’s talked his way into playing games before, and surely he could again.
Either way, Watt’s progress — and streak of 80 straight games — will be a major topic of discussion as NFL training camp nears.
Connor O'Gara is the senior national columnist for Saturday Tradition. He's a member of the Football Writers Association of America. After spending his entire life living in B1G country, he moved to the South in 2015.