Chiefs might not face J.J. Watt, Le’Veon Bell
The Kansas City Chiefs have potentially caught two breaks in the last 24 hours.
Kansas City starts the season against the San Diego Chargers before facing the Houston Texans, New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers, in that order.
Suddenly, that order matters. A lot.
On Thursday night, it was reported that Texans star defensive end and reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, J.J. Watt, underwent back surgery to repair a herniated disk on Wednesday. His timetable is being reported around eight weeks, with some saying six and others 10.
If Watt misses eight weeks, he will miss the Week 2 matchup against the Chiefs. Without him, the Texans look a whole lot different.
No questioning Watt's toughness but this will be about more than pain tolerance. https://t.co/NW8d4mhAY7
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) July 22, 2016
On JJ Watt, texted with a source informed of his prognosis who pumped the brakes on early optimism. Cautioned it could take up to 10 weeks.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) July 22, 2016
Meanwhile, Pittsburgh running back Le’Veon Bell has been suspended four games for missing a drug test, which violates the league’s substance abuse policy. Bell is fighting the ban, something he did last year and got the suspension reduced from three games to two. It might be tougher to make a case this time around, considering his history.
#Steelers RB Le'Veon Bell is facing a 4-game suspension for violating @NFL policy on substance of abuse, as @DanGrazianoESPN said.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 22, 2016
For the past several weeks, the #Steelers had known Le'Veon Bell likely wouldn't be on the field when the season began. He missed drug tests
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 22, 2016
There is a chance both players go against the Chiefs, but if they don’t, Kansas City lucks out in a major way. Houston relies heavily on its defense while Pittsburgh is already sans receiver Martavis Bryant, who is suspended for the entire season.