By Ryan Gerstel, Eagledelphia contributor 
Watt placed on IR: NFL Insider Ian Rapoport reported Tuesday evening that Houston Texans star pass rusher J.J. Watt re-injured his back in the team's Week 3 game against the New England Patriots.
Sources: #Texans star DL JJ Watt has re-injured his back and is expected to be out for an extended period of time. Could be the season.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 28, 2016
#Texans are trying to learn more about JJ Watt’s back, which likely was injured vs. the #Patriots. Massive blow to their defense either way.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 28, 2016
The loss of Watt is a massive blow to the Texans' fifth-ranked defense. The Pro Bowl defensive end is arguably the best defender in the league, and is a consistently disruptive force in the trenches.
With the Texans placing Watt on the IR, he will have to miss at least eight weeks. However, there are whispers that the severity of the back injury could end Watt's season.
From @gmfb, the latest this morning on the news that #Texans star DL JJ Watt (back) could be out for the season: https://t.co/9phlSMXwuX
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 28, 2016
The back injury comes eight months after Watt had back surgery. While doctors advised Watt not to rush his recovery and even sit the first few weeks of the season, he felt that he was ready to go Week 1.
Watt told reporters earlier this month that when he got the surgery back in January, he questioned his future in the NFL.
"After the first surgery, there were some days there where I really questioned whether or not I'd ever be able to play again," Watt said earlier this month, via ESPN. "Just some of the stuff we were dealing with from a rehab standpoint, just the way that the recovery was going early on … there was a very low point there, and it was tough."
Week 4 will mark the first time the 27-year-old has missed a game in his six-year NFL career. In light of Watt's injury, the Texans re-signed defensive end Antonio Smith.
Dez to have MRI: Dallas Cowboys star receiver Dez Bryant is expecting to hear the results of an MRI on his knee Wednesday, according to his Twitter handle.
We'll find out today https://t.co/0R58BrVtyP
— Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) September 28, 2016
Bryant was supposed to undergo an MRI Monday, but it didn't happen. In a radio appearance on 105.3 The Fan, team owner Jerry Jones commented on the potential of an MRI on Bryant's knee that he injured during the Cowboys' Week 3 game against the Chicago Bears.
"He hasn't taken an MRI to my knowledge, so I'm assuming he's going to go," Jones said, via NFL.com. "He certainly finished the game out. That in and of itself is a good indication, it doesn't mean he's going to be free of the symptoms or the injury, but again we may look at an MRI before this day is over."
An X-ray taken after the game revealed that Bryant had a minor sprain, but an MRI would be needed to confirm that diagnosis.
The 27-year-old was tackled awkwardly early in the game and exited for about six plays before returning and ultimately finishing the game.
Bears pick up Bell: Former Detroit Lions running back Joique Bell signed with division rival Chicago Bears Tuesday.
The signing comes at an ironic time, as the Bears and Lions are set to play this weekend at Soldier Field. The Bears also placed third-year corner back Kyle Fuller on IR after he underwent knee surgery in the preseason. He has not seen game action since the surgery.
The Lions cut Bell back in February, but worked him out last week after placing starting tailback Ameer Abdullah on injured reserve.
The 30-year-old Bell struggled with Detroit last season, rushing for just 311 yards on 90 carries (3.5 ypg) while enduring injuries that limited him to 13 games.
