It’s the kind of news that makes a team’s fanbase need to take a minute to catch its breath. Houston Texans All-World defensive end J.J. Watt went under the knife Wednesday to repair a herniated disc in his back. Because of the time needed to recover from that surgery, Watt will open the preseason on the physically unable to perform list. Not only that, there’s a chance he won’t even be ready when the season begins on Sept. 11.
On JJ Watt’s back surgery: I’m told the recovery time is 6-8 weeks & it happened very recently. Puts him right up against the start of 2016
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 22, 2016
Watt’s recovery could take as long as 10 weeks, though there are reasons to be open to a more optimistic number. What isn’t in doubt is that Watt will miss the entire preseason and won’t even be practicing until at least September.
This isn’t the first surgery of the offseason for Watt. Immediately after the Texans were eliminated from the playoffs he needed surgery to repair torn muscles in his core area that actually rendered him unable to walk for a while. He also had a broken hand he had to deal with. Still, even with all that, Watt has never missed a single game in his NFL career. A streak that could very well be in jeopardy.
Watt is simply one of the best players in the NFL at the moment at any position. Last year he won NFL Defensive Player of the Year for the third time and second time in a row. He led the league with 17.5 sacks, adding 76 tackles, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and eight passes defended.
Bell could face four-game suspension
See, people. This is why I tell you to wait until after the final preseason game to hold your fantasy football drafts. Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell is facing the possibility of being suspended for four games to begin the season after skipping a required drug test. Last year Bell was suspended for the first two games of the season after being busted along with New England Patriots running back LeGarett Blount when they got pulled over with pot in the car.
Sources close to the situation tell me Steelers RB Le'Veon Bell is facing a four-game suspension for violation… https://t.co/6CWpS45NSm
— Dan Graziano (@DanGrazianoESPN) July 22, 2016
Bell is currently appealing the decision, which is why the NFL hasn’t formally announced it. Rumors began circulating last month that Bell had skipped the test, but he denied to ESPN.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Bell said, specifically, to ESPN’s Dan Graziano.
Bell is primed for a bounce-back season after missing almost all of last year with a knee injury. With the injury and suspension, he only played in six games. If Bell is suspended for the first four games, it will cost him (and the Steelers) games against the Washington Redskins, the Cincinnati Bengals, the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs. Three of those teams made the playoffs last year and two of them could have tie-breaker implications for the playoffs this year. Bell not suiting up would be a blow.
The Steelers have already lost wide receiver Martavis Bryant to a year-long substance abuse suspension.
For his own sake Bell couldn’t have picked a worse time to mess up and get suspended again. He’s in a contract year with the Steelers and if the suspension is upheld, it will definitely knock millions off his future contract, even if it’s with another team. Bell’s next ban will be for 10 games. After that, he’ll be sitting out a season just like Bryant. It’s a risk that the Steelers may not want to take.
The good news for the Steelers at least is they still have last year’s insurance policy, DeAngelo Williams still on the roster. Williams came over from the Carolina Panthers as a free agent last year and looked like he was back in his prime. He carried the ball 200 tims for 907 yards and a league-leading 11 touchdowns while catching 40 passes for 367 yards.
Cardinals’ Clemons could face NFL discipline too
In fact, Arizona Cardinals safety Chris Clemons will be lucky if he doesn’t go to jail. This week the Scottsdale, Ariz. police officially recommended that Clemons be charged with assault and disorderly conduct over an incident outside a nightclub on May 8.
NFL's Chris Clemons — Denied KO'ing Woman … In Bizarre Cop Cam Video https://t.co/XFNjvAjOI4
— TMZ (@TMZ) July 22, 2016
The police report alleges that Clemons assaulted a woman outside of The International, which you’ll be shocked to learn isn’t a strip club. The woman claimed Clemons punched her in the face hard enough to knock her out. Clemons denied hitting the woman, but according to the report, was “visibly intoxicated” and “slurring his speech.”
