Houston Texans morning huddle: Looking towards the Chargers

Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt was expected to meet with his surgeon Monday to be cleared to take the next step in his rehab from his September back surgery, according to ESPN’s Lisa Salters.

Watt was put on injured reserve before the Texans’ Week 4 game, less than three months after he reaggravated his back injury. He underwent his second back surgery in less than three months. Watt also had surgery to repair a herniated disk in his back in late July.

The Texans won their first game against the San Diego Chargers in the 2013 regular season opener. Brian Cushing, in his first game since the 2012 season-ending knee injury, made the biggest play of the game in the fourth quarter.

Brock Osweiler and Philip Rivers have a history.

The quarterbacks play Sunday at NRG Stadium, where the Texans host San Diego.
When Osweiler left Arizona State and prepared for the 2012 draft, he spent time working out with Rivers at UCLA.

Rivers, the fourth overall pick by the New York Giants in 2004, was traded to San Diego for Eli Manning. One of his offensive coordinators at North Carolina State was Noel Mazzone.

The emergence of San Diego Chargers rookie defensive end Joey Bosa as a leading NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate has placed him firmly on the Texans’ radar as a blocking priority.