Texans sign Antonio Smith, place JJ Watt on injured list

On Wednesday, the Texans announced the signing of 12-year veteran linebacker Antonio Smith. That would likely mean Watt is placed on injured reserve with the possibility of returning late in the season.

Watt, who missed the entire preseason after undergoing surgery to fix a herniated disc in July, re-injured his back during the Houston's Week 3 (27-0) loss to the New England Patriots on Thursday night. This announcement came hours after it was reported Watt had injured surgically repaired back again during the Texans game against the New England Patriots.

Watt is being placed on injured reserve after reportedly re-aggravating a back injury, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Watt led the National Football League with 17.5 sacks last season and has 76 for his career.

Smith was with the Denver Broncos last season, compiling nine tackles along with 2.5 sacks in 16 contests.

In a radio interview in April, Watt speculated that his career may end up a short one.

Earlier in the season, Texans head coach Bill O'Brien praised Clowney's versatility and said he thinks Clowney's knowledge of the game makes the change easier.

While the Patriots don't have to face the Texans again this season, there is still a solid chance that there could be a playoff rematch. Perhaps if the Texans had slowed him down in August or kept him on the sidelines at the beginning of the year we wouldn't be talking about another possible operation for the game's best defensive player. He had surgery to fix that wound in January.

Through three games last season, Watt had already recorded 19 tackles and three sacks. He returned to practice less than seven weeks later, and is just now hitting the 10-week recovery point from surgery.

He has 45 passes defended in his six-year career.

Minus the NFL's lone player to be selected as a first-team All-Pro in each of the past four seasons, though, the ceiling is lower.