J.J. Watt left the Houston Texans’ game against the Oakland Raiders with a torn pectoral and did not return.
Later, he posted on social media that he won’t be returning at any point this season.
This game can be beautiful and it can also be brutal. Absolutely gutted that I won’t be able to finish the season with my guys and give the fans what they deserve. I truly love this game and can’t stand letting you guys down. Thank you for all of the thoughts & well-wishes.
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) October 28, 2019
The Texans did win the game, 27-24, but with Watt’s exit, the win probably feels more bitter than sweet.
Watt has registered four sacks and 21 total tackles thus far for Houston, who sit in second in the AFC South at 5-3, behind the 5-2 Indianapolis Colts, who beat Denver 15-13 on Sunday.
The 30-year-old Watt has already has had a much-celebrated career. He’s also been hugely charitable to the Houston area in his time there.
Over his nine-years in the NFL, Watt has been a first-team All-Pro selection five times, named to the Pro Bowl five times, and has been named the AP Defensive Player of the Year three times.
Before he sent out the tweet revealing the extent of the injury, he retweeted the Texans’ account but added a bit of a self-deprecating joke:
Shoulda told my pec to look out lol https://t.co/LQDVoSheEr
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) October 28, 2019
Houston now has to travel to London to take on the Jaguars next Sunday. They’ll get a bye week following that. The Texans’ schedule after the bye isn’t sympathetic to their situation. Week 11 starts a stint that includes a game in Baltimore before home contests against the Colts and Patriots.
