Texans May Have to Cut or Trade Star J.J. Watt in Near Future

3-Time NFL Defensive Player of the Year struggled with injuries and has huge contract.

J.J. Watt #99 of the Houston Texans walks off the field after pre-game warm ups at NRG Stadium on October 1, 2017 in Houston, Texas. Houston won 57-14.  (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
J.J. Watt #99 of the Houston Texans walks off the field after pre-game warm ups at NRG Stadium on October 1, 2017 in Houston, Texas. Houston won 57-14. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
Getty Images

When the Houston Texans’ season ended two years ago with a 34-16 playoff loss to the New England Patriots, J.J. Watt was not on the field due to injury.

When the team’s season ended this past year in a 22-13 regular-season defeat at the hands of the Indianapolis Colts, Watt was on the sidelines because he was hurt.

Those are a lot of missed games for a player that dominates the accounting ledger as much as he does a game.

Over the past two seasons, the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year has only played in eight games despite costing Houston $29 million against the salary cap. For that reason, the Texans could be looking to move on from Watt sooner rather than later.

Watt, who is scheduled to earn $11 million this year and $13 million in 2019, did play all 16 games during his first five seasons in the NFL, but the Texans may be concerned enough about his recent injuries that they would trade or even cut him.

If they do cut the 29-year-old, the Texans will save $9 million. If the team does it next year, they’ll save $13 million under the salary cap.

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