HOUSTON – Texans defensive end J.J. Watt said Wednesday the team is anxious to return to Houston and help those ravaged by catastrophic flooding.
Watt, who started his own fundraising campaign, said the effort has already collected $6 million for relief efforts, so he’s upping the goal to $10 million.
RELATED: Donate to Watt's fundraising campaign
“Because everything’s bigger in Texas,” Watt said.
Watt said the cancellation of the team’s preseason game against the in-state rival Dallas Cowboys that was scheduled for this weekend was bittersweet.
“It’s been extremely difficult to watch, but it’s also been unbelievably motivational,” Watt said. “I think we’re seeing humans helping humans. It doesn’t matter -- rich, poor, black, white. It doesn’t matter. Everybody’s helping everybody.”
Watt, a Wisconsin native, reassured his adopted home of Houston that the money being donated to his fundraiser will be put right back into helping those affected by Tropical Storm Harvey.
“When I say Houston, I mean Rockport (and) Victoria, things like that,” Watt said.
The football standout said he is still working out the details of how and where donations will be distributed. He said his goal is to have tractor-trailers in Dallas that are loaded with supplies in Houston by Sunday.
“Houston, we’re coming home, and we’re going to help you,” Watt said.
The team opens the season at home on Sept. 10 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
