Houston defensive standout J.J. Watt will miss the remainder of the NFL season after breaking his left leg in the Texans' loss to Kansas City, the team confirmed on Monday.

It's a crushing blow for the Texans and for Watt, a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year who played just three games last season because of a back injury that required two surgeries.

"I can't sugarcoat it, I am devastated," Watt tweeted in the early hours of Monday morning, after he was diagnosed with a tibial plateau fracture.

"All I want to do is be out there on that field for my teammates and this city. I'm sorry."

In four games this season, Watt had 13 tackles but no sacks.

But over the course of his career he's been a defensive monster on a clear path to the Hall of Fame.

In his first five seasons, 2011-2015, he started all 85 games the Texans played, including five post-season contests.

In that span he produced 79.5 sacks, certainly Hall of Fame numbers. During that time, the Texans finished in the top nine in scoring defense four times and in the top seven in total defense four times.

"I feel terrible for the guy," Texans head coach Bill O'Brien said of the 28-year-old player.

"But, with that being said, just knowing him and knowing the type of guy that he is, he's an amazing human being. He's an amazing human being, and he will work extremely hard to be back, to be back to play for this football team. I know that."

Watt also won a legion of admirers after organizing a fundraising drive for relief efforts in Houston following Hurricane Harvey. Watt's campaign raised more than $37 million.

source: AFP