J.J. Watt passes Texans physical, could play Week 1

The Houston Texans announced Sunday that defensive end J.J. Watt has passed his team physical.

Watt, who underwent a surprising back surgery in late July and missed all of training camp and preseason, was activated from the physically unable to perform list Saturday. He has never missed a game in five NFL seasons.

"I would say that we are headed in the right direction with him," coach Bill O'Brien said Friday when asked if Watt would be ready for Houston's opener against the Chicago Bears on Sept. 11.

"He certainly feels much better obviously than he did, let’s just say, two weeks ago. ... I know that it looks decent for him to be able to play in the first game.”

Only Watt and Lawrence Taylor have won NFL defensive player of the year honors three times.

Watt, a first-team all-pro and Pro Bowler in every season except his rookie year in 2011, has recorded 74½ sacks in 80 games and led the league in that category twice.

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