HOUSTON -- In a message to fans on Twitter, Texans defensive end J.J. Watt spoke for the first time since having back surgery.
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) July 25, 2016
"As I sit here, recovering from back surgery, the doctors won't really let me do much, so I end up just pacing around my house all day," Watt tweeted. "I've spent a lot of my time reading through the notes and letters that y'all have sent to me and trying to respond to as many as I can. I know I won't be able to respond directly to everyone, so I wanted to write one note to all of you to say thank you. You make our jobs possible. You make them fun and you make difficult times like these much easier. So thank you, I truly appreciate you. See you on the field very soon."
Watt had surgery last week to repair a herniated disk in his back. He played with the injury last season, but it was not thought to need surgery. Recently, the injury flared up and surgery became necessary.
Watt will miss at least training camp and all of the preseason, but the rest of his timetable is uncertain. There is some concern about his availability for the early part of the season, sources familiar with Watt's condition said.
According to people familiar with the surgery who have not treated Watt, rest is critical in the immediate aftermath of such a procedure. The more he rests now, the quicker his recovery will be. It could take anywhere between six and 10 weeks.
The Texans placed Watt on their physically unable to perform list Monday ahead of training camp.
Watt has never missed a game since the Texans drafted him No. 11 in 2011.