O'Brien: Looks decent for Watt to play in first game

HOUSTON – Houston Texans coach Bill O'Brien said Friday it's looking more likely that star defensive end J.J. Watt will be able to play in the season opener against the Chicago Bears.

"I think the arrow is pointing towards that," O'Brien said, when asked if Watt would be available to play on Sept.11. "I would say we're headed in the right direction with him. He certainly feels much better, obviously, than he did two weeks ago.

"I don't think we're at that point right now today where we're going to say we're going to activate him right now, but I know that it looks decent for him to be able to play in the first game," O'Brien added. 

The three-time defensive player of the year has not missed a regular season of playoff game in his five-year career.

Watt has played in all 80 regular season games and all five playoff games the Texans have had since he was drafted 11th overall in the 2011 NFL draft.