J.J. Watt passes physical, will return to practice Monday

Former Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt is joining the Arizona Cardinals. (Eric Christian Smith/AP)

HOUSTON — J.J. Watt passed his physical on Sunday and will return to practice on Monday, a good sign that he’ll be ready for Houston’s opener against Chicago on Sept. 11.

Watt missed all of training camp and the Texans’ four preseason games after surgery to repair a herniated disc in his back in July.

The Texans activated him from the physically unable to perform list on Saturday before Sunday’s announcement that he passed his physical.

Watt, the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year in three of the past four seasons, hasn’t missed a game in his five-year career.

The defensive end also sat out the entire preseason in 2012 because of an elbow injury and was able to return for the season opener.

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