Sep 18, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith (11) attempt to recover a fumble during the first quarter at NRG Stadium. Photo Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt underwent back surgery Thursday and will miss the remainder of the 2016 season.
Head coach Bill O’Brien confirmed Friday that the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year will not be able to return this year.
Watt, placed on injured reserve Wednesday, saw a specialist and elected to have the surgery, according to the Houston Chronicle. Watt underwent back surgery on the same disk in late July and sat out the preseason. He returned to play each of the Texans’ first three regular-season games. Under league rules, Watt could play in eight weeks, but the Texans do not want to take any chances.
Watt reinjured his back in a 27-0 loss to the New England Patriots last week in a Week 3 Thursday night game.
–Texans head coach Bill O’Brien plans to take over the offensive play-calling duties starting Sunday, although he said “nothing has changed.”
O’Brien will call plays again after taking the duties away from offensive coordinator George Godsey for the game against the Tennessee Titans, according to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle and confirmed by multiple reports.
O’Brien called plays in 2014 in his first season with the Texans but turned over the responsibility to Godsey last year. On Friday, O’Brien would not confirm he has taken over play-calling duties.
–The Buffalo Bills placed star wide receiver Sammy Watkins on injured reserve.
The move came hours after the team had ruled him out for Sunday’s game at the undefeated New England Patriots with soreness in his surgically repaired left foot.
Watkins, the No. 4 overall draft pick in 2014, will not be eligible to return to the Bills for eight weeks. He complained of soreness in the foot after hauling in four catches for 43 yards in a season-opening 13-7 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. He underwent an MRI exam but played against the New York Jets four days later, and posted two receptions for 20 yards.
–The Cleveland Browns appear to be done with suspended wide receiver Josh Gordon, who put his football career on hold Thursday to enter an in-patient rehabilitation facility.
Coach Hue Jackson told reporters that Gordon is out of chances in Cleveland.
“What’s best for our football team is that we move forward and move on,” Jackson said. “He’s not going to be with us and we wish him well, but we’re moving forward. We’re going to move on.”
Gordon, who was suspended for the first four games in 2016, was scheduled to rejoin practice on Monday and play Oct. 9 against the New England Patriots in his first game since 2014, but instead he is out indefinitely.
–New York Jets wide receiver Eric Decker will miss Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks because of a partially torn rotator cuff.
Decker aggravated a shoulder injury during last Sunday’s 24-3 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. He told team officials on Tuesday of the increased pain and an MRI exam displayed that there was a tear.
Jets coach Todd Bowles termed the injury “week to week” and said Decker hopes to avoid surgery. The team is hoping that rest and rehab will allow the injury to heal. Decker originally hurt the shoulder in Week 2 against the Buffalo Bills when he caught six passes for 126 yards. He had just one catch in the loss to the Chiefs.
–Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Julius Thomas remains a game-time decision for Sunday’s game in London against the Indianapolis Colts.
Thomas tested a brace on his injured elbow in Friday’s practice and is listed as questionable for the game at Wembley Stadium. He has caught 11 passes for 148 yards and a touchdown in three games this season.
If Thomas can’t play, the Jaguars would have just two healthy tight ends — 11-year veteran Marcedes Lewis and second-year player Neal Sterling. Ben Koyack had surgery last week to repair a damaged MCL in his knee.
–The Detroit Lions signed cornerback D’Joun Smith to the team’s practice squad and release tight end Brian Leonhardt.
Smith comes to Detroit after appearing in four games in 2015 as a rookie for the Indianapolis Colts. He was originally selected by the Colts in the third round (65th overall) of the 2015 draft out of Florida Atlantic, finishing last season with one special teams tackle and one fumble recovery.
Leonhard was added to the Lions’ practice squad this season after being waived by the Minnesota Vikings.
