Houston Texans: 3 Vital statistics for 2019 season
92
Through the first five seasons of what has already been an impressive career, defensive end J.J. Watt was as dominant as a player as there was in the league. The 11th overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft started all 80 regular-season games and rolled up an incredible 74.5 sacks. Add in 15 forced fumbles, 12 fumbles recoveries, one interception and 45 passes defensed and it’s easy to see why he not only earned All-Pro honors four times but was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2012, 2014 and 2015.
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In 2014, he put together one of the most complete performances by a football player in modern-day league annals. There were 78 tackles, 20.5 sacks, five fumble recoveries, four forced fumbles and 10 passes defensed. He scored on an interception and a fumble return and was credited with a safety. He also caught three touchdown passes.
But then came the injuries. Watt would miss a total of 24 games from 2016-17 and there were those who felt his best football may be behind him. But he answered all that this past season by starting all 16 contests for the sixth time in eight seasons. He rolled up 61 stops, 16 quarterback traps and seven forced fumbles while knocking down four passes.
So make it 92 sacks in 104 regular-season outings for the former University of Wisconsin standout. And who knows what’s in store for the 30-year old performer who appears back on track?