3 Texans that need to step up in Watt's absence

The Houston Texans were hit recently with the devastating news that star defensive end J.J. Watt might miss the rest of the season with a back injury.

Watt has carried the team on his back for the past five seasons, but the Texans appeared to be on the verge of something special this year. If that is to remain the case, three players in particular will have to step up their games in his absence.

Jadeveon Clowney

The one Texans defender taken with a higher pick since Watt was drafted 11th overall in 2011, Clowney will have to make good on the effusive praise he earned in college. Since going first overall in the 2014 draft, the defensive end-linebacker hybrid has just 5.5 sacks in 20 career games.

Finally healthy after battling knee issues, Clowney hasn't missed a game yet this year, but his best performance was a four-tackle, one-sack game in the season opener against the Chicago Bears.

The Texans desperately need more than that, especially without the reigning three-time Defensive Player of the Year.

Whitney Mercilus

A year after the Texans drafted Watt, they used their first-round pick on Mercilus in hopes of solidifying their pass rush for years to come.

Mercilus has had a solid career, racking up 185 tackles and 32 sacks in his four-plus seasons. He'll have to soak up some of Watt's responsibilities now, and do so without his play regressing. As the offense continues to coalesce, it's imperative the defense holds the fort until Brock Osweiler and Co. are able to win some games on their own.

Mercilus opened the year with a Defensive Player of the Week performance against the Bears, recording two sacks and a forced fumble. Without Watt's 14-plus sacks per year, he'll have to hit those numbers consistently.

Brock Osweiler

In his first two games with Houston, Osweiler appeared to be the quarterback Watt and the Texans dreamed of as he led them to two straight wins. He was awful in a showcase game against the New England Patriots, though, raising concerns about the team's $72-million man.

He was obviously going to have to shoulder the load on offense, but without Watt wreaking havoc on the opposition, that mandate has grown tenfold. He'll likely have to take on a leadership role, as well.

Lamar Miller's Texans debut has gotten off to a slow start, placing even more pressure on the 25-year-old's rocket right arm. Many are already waiting for the youngster to fail, but he'll have to thrive under the microscope. The Texans have four more spotlight games ahead, and battles with the Vikings' and Broncos' vaunted defenses on the horizon. All the excuses are built in, but Houston will accept nothing less than success.