Texans’ J.J. Watt (back), Jadeveon Clowney (sickness) miss practice

Texans players J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney missed team practice on Wednesday.

Houston Texans players J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney missed team practice on Wednesday.

Texans head coach Bill O’Brien told reporters that Watt is “dealing with a minor injury,” while Clowney is “suffering from a 24-hour bug,” which is why both players were sidelined Wednesday.

Watt said he was dealing with minor back pain, but fully intends on playing Sunday against the Tennessee Titans. Last season’s defensive player of the year has not missed a game for the Texans since joining the team in 2011. 

Clowney is coming off a game in which he recorded his first career sack. Last week, Clowney took down Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill in the second quarter of Houston’s 44–26 loss.

• Texans finally release Ryan Mallett, but internal damage already done

Clowney played only four games his rookie year after undergoing season-ending microfracture surgery on his right knee. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 draft has played in six games for Houston this year, recording 16 tackles. The linebacker missed the Texans’ Week 6 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars with an ankle injury.

Watt and Clowney are listed on the team’s depth chart for Sunday.

​

- Christopher Chavez