Texans' Watt placed on IR, eligible to return in 8 weeks

The Houston Texans placed star defensive end J.J. Watt on injured reserve Wednesday due to a back injury.

Under the new IR rules, Watt will be forced to miss eight weeks, making Week 12 the earliest he can return. The injury, however, reportedly could be season-ending.

Watt is believed to have re-injured his back - which he underwent surgery on in the offseason - in Thursday's blowout loss to the New England Patriots.

After he had surgery, it was thought he'd miss the start of the season, but the three-time Defensive Player of the Year defied expectations, suiting up from Weeks 1-3.

Without their franchise defensive player, the Texans will rely on the duo of Jadeveon Clowney and Whitney Mercilus. Clowney, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, has one sack so far this season, in what was expected to be his breakout year.

The Texans also confirmed the signing of free-agent defensive end Antonio Smith.