HOUSTON -- For the rest of this season, the Texans will be without arguably the greatest player to wear the uniform in the team's 18-year history.
J.J. Watt is out with a torn pectoral muscle after tackling rookie running back Josh Jacobs during Sunday's win against the Raiders.
The fear Watt's injury could be serious was almost immediate. Instead of hanging out in the locker room, or changing clothes to watch the rest of the game on the sideline, Watt headed for a hospital to get a closer look at the injury.
Shortly after the Texans secured the win, he tweeted out what so many feared -- that he would not be able to finish the season with his teammates.
It's the third season of his nine played so far that's cut short due to injury.
Related: JJ Watt To Miss Rest Of Season With Injury
While unfortunate for Watt and the team, other players will be needed to step up in his absence.
After being absent from the stat sheet in the Texans' season-opening loss to the New Orleans Saints, Watt's recorded four sacks, four tackles for loss, 20 quarterback hits, three passes defended and a forced fumble.
Watt recorded a sack in three consecutive games from Weeks 3-5. He was also leading the league in quarterback hits going into Week 8.
So how are the Texans going to replace that kind of production?
Head coach Bill O'Brien said Monday he did not feel pressed to trade for a defensive end, even with the trade deadline looming Tuesday. He said the chances of a transaction are slim to none, "but never say never."
Meanwhile, the slack could be picked up by a combination of Barkevious Mingo, Jacob Martin, rookie Charles Omenihu, nose tackles D.J. Reader and Brandon Dunn.
"Like I said (Sunday) night, no one person is going to take the spot of a Hall of Fame player, but at the end of the day, these things happen and we've got to move forward and do what we have to do to win games," O'Brien said. "That's what we're going to do. We're going to do the best we can to put the players in the right position based on what their skillsets are and go try to win games."
Also on SportsRadio 610
Watson on game winning TD pass: 'I kind of threw it blind'
