JJ Watt suffered ‘worst bruise ever seen’ that changed colour of Burnley investor and NFL legend’s leg for weeks

J.J. Watt was one of the most dominant players in the NFL during his best playing days.

But there’s one play he still remembers almost a decade later when the former Houston Texans star was dominated on the field — and had the painful bruise to prove it.

“I was coming right off the edge and it was a free shot on the quarterback,” Watt said recently on the Pat McAfee Show.

It was the 2014 season.

Ryan Fitzpatrick was the Texans’ quarterback.

The Texans were playing Fitzpatrick’s old team, the Buffalo Bills.

Watt was at the peak of his powers and helped lead the Texans to a tough 23-17 home victory with an 80-yard interception return for a touchdown.

“I love to be out there,” Watt told ESPN at the time. “I don’t like to give plays up. I don’t like to be on the sidelines for any of them if I can go.”

But during the game, a play unfolded in which Watt had a free shot at Bills QB EJ Manuel with only a running back standing in his way.

“I had a decision to make,” Watt said. “I could either go and try and bat the ball because I saw him (the quarterback) start to throw it. Or I could try and run the running back over and get the sack.

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“And I was like, ‘Make the sacrifice for the team – put your hands up in the air.’ “

The running back attacked Watt and an absolutely nasty bruise was the end result.

“He hit me in the thigh board as hard as you could hit somebody,” Watt said. “Folded me in half, straight to the ground, and my entire thigh was black and blue for the next two weeks straight.”

He still had a monster year in ’14, winning Defensive Player of the Year and finishing second in MVP voting, only topped by Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers.

The 2014 campaign was one of the best of Watt’s career.

It also resulted in the worst bruise ever seen.

The retired NFL star is now a part owner of Premier League side Burnley.