HOUSTON -- The Houston Texans went down a similar path in 2016, losing three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt early in the season.
But in Watt’s absence, the Texans played exceptionally well into the standard NFL next-man-up mentality, finishing the season ranked as the NFL’s best defense. A big piece of that charge, however, was the play of outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus, who led the team with 7.5 sacks and had four fumble recoveries last season.
Now, after Watt suffered a tibial plateau fracture to his left leg in Sunday's 42-34 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, the Texans will have to replace Watt’s production and presence on the field without Mercilus, who also left the game with a chest injury.