Watt Does It Again
J.J. Watt mimics Rob Gronkowski: Splits wide, makes diving catch for historic TD — The Gronk II?
CLEVELAND — Just when you thought J.J. Watt couldn't possibly add more to his game, he goes full tight end. Move over Gronk?
Watt didn't just catch his second touchdown pass of the season to give the Ryan Mallett-led Houston Texans an early 7-0 lead in Cleveland. He split wide on the play and made a diving over-the-shoulder touchdown catch on the edge of the end zone. The New England Patriots game-changing, all-pro tight end Rob Gronkowski wouldn't even sneer at such a catch.
So much for any lingering idea of Watt's goal-line cameos at tight end being anything remotely Refrigerator Perry like. This ain't no gimmick. Watt has obviously been working on his pass routes.
This latest Watt TD grab made his tight end touchdown in Week 2 against the Raiders look like a mere warm-up.
Browns linebacker Chris Kirksey is a burgeoning NFL star. But when Kirksey found himself alone on an island against Watt when the hulking Texan split wide in a third-and-goal play from the two, he had no chance. In fact, Kirksey might as well have asked for a blindfold and a cigarette.
Mallett only looked to Watt and lofted a pass into the end zone. Watt caught it while diving forward. As the Browns fans packed into the frigid FirstEnergy Stadium looked at themselves in bitter disbelief.
Even NFL officials apparently aren't quire ready for this defensive lineman turned wideout either. The scoring play review took much longer than usual, even though it was apparent that Watt made the catch and stayed in bounds from the first look. Hey, some things you have to see several times to truly believe.
Like a 6-foot-5, 290-pound defensive lineman making acrobatic touchdown grabs. This latest Watt TD made his tight end touchdown catch in Week 2 against the Raiders look like a mere warm-up.
Watt's now scored more touchdowns (four — two receiving, one Pick-6, one fumble return) in a season than any defensive lineman since 1948.
And he's only getting warmed up. Watt — who prepped for the game by taking the field in shorts and a sleeveless shirt, drawing plenty of double takes in the 34 degree weather — added a sack and forced fumble later in the first quarter.