The Houston Texans could be a very different team when the 2021 season gets underway, on both sides of the ball.
In the wake of star quarterback Deshaun Watson’s request to be traded out of Houston, franchise icon J.J. Watt may also have played his last snap with the team he’s spent his entire illustrious 10-year career with.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo, a decision on the future of the five-time All-Pro is looming and “the sense is that a split could be coming.”
“The Houston Texans know that J.J. Watt deserves clarity on his future – this is something he wants, it’s something the organization wants – and from what I understand, this is coming,” Rapoport said on Saturday on NFL Network’s Good Morning Football Weekend. “…The team knows it has a decision to make on J.J. Watt and it sounds like Watt is wondering what this decision is.
“Is he going to be in Houston next year? A very open question, so much goes into it. He’s in the last year of his deal and it just really makes me wonder … is this the end for J.J. Watt in Houston?”
NFL Network’s James Palmer followed up on that report, saying a few teammates and coaches of Watt believe he “has played his final game as a Texan.”
Watt is entering the final year of a six-year, $100-million contract he signed with the Texans in September 2014.
The news of a possible split between Watt and the Texans comes days after reports confirmed Watson has requested a trade out of Houston.
New Texans GM Nick Caserio said on Friday the team has “zero interest” in trading Watson, but the quarterback reportedly has dug in on his stance and recently removed all Texans references from his social media accounts.
Watt, 31, has been the face of the Texans franchise since being drafted by the team 11th overall in 2011. A three-time defensive player of the year and future Hall of Famer, Watt’s 101 career sacks are the franchise’s all-time record by a wide margin and place him 31st on the NFL’s all-time list.
The Pewaukee, Wisc., native also leads the franchise in tackles for loss (172), QB hits (282) and forced fumbles (25), and is fourth in team history in passes defended (61) – the only non-defensive back in the top-eight of that category.
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