J.J. Watt leaves Chiefs game with groin injury

Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt left Saturday's Wild Card game against the Kansas City Chiefs with a groin injury. Watt exited the game early in the third quarter and was trying to get loose on the sideline, stretching his legs and holding his hand, which he broke late in the regular season.

After returning to the game for a handful of snaps, Watt went down and had to be attended to by the medical staff on the field. He stayed down for some time and then was escorted off the field, with his head hung low. He was walking around gingerly on the sideline. The Texans announced his return as questionable with a groin injury.

Watt is Houston's best player by a wide margin and led the entire NFL in sacks in the regular season. He's a strong, versatile defensive lineman and the Texans will be affected in a big way if he has to miss significant time. At the time of the injury, the Texans trailed, 13-0.

That was not the first play in which Watt simply went down without being completely forced down. He's been sluggish and only had one tackle before exiting the game in the second half.