The Cardinals acquired a few standout talents this offseason, but J.J. Watt was unquestionably their highest-profile addition. However, the three-time Defensive Player of the Year has not yet taken the field for his new team at training camp due to a hamstring injury.
It does not sound like the Cardinals are expecting Watt to return soon. The 11th-year defensive end remains on the team’s active/PUP list and may not be ready to come off it during the team’s preseason slate. Kliff Kingsbury, however, said he will feel comfortable deploying Watt in Week 1 even if he only practices in the days leading up to that game, per AZCardinals.com’s Darren Urban (via Twitter).
Watt said Saturday he feels “great” and expects to be on the field for the Cards’ season opener. He felt hamstring discomfort during his conditioning test at the outset of training camp. Watt’s injury has come at a time in which Chandler Jones has gone through practice disgruntled. Arizona’s other All-Pro pass rusher requested a trade late last month. As of now, both are expected to be on the field when the Cardinals face the Titans on Sept. 12, but neither is in an ideal situation at this juncture.
The Cards gave Watt a two-year, $28MM deal with $20MM guaranteed this offseason, winning a wide-ranging free agency pursuit. Watt has made it through two of the past three seasons healthy, but injuries halted the dominant stretch he crafted and have played a key role in the past several years of his career. Watt suffered season-ending injuries in 2016 and ’17 — a back malady and a tibial plateau fracture, respectively — and missed a lengthy stretch in 2019 due to a torn pectoral muscle.
While the Cardinals expect to have their recently acquired defensive end on the field when their regular season starts, Watt’s injury history amplifies any health-related setback he encounters.
Jules Winnfield: “Say Watt again…say Watt again. I dare you, I double dare you. Say Watt one more GD time”.
Nicely done. What’s a dominant stretch called in Amsterdam?
What about your opinion on Aaron Rodgers?
Can we please get that for the millionth time?
“Do they speak English in Watt?
And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger, those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers and you will know my name is the lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee.”
That’s good, couldn’t help myself to quote Tarantino’s best after that got me going…
Next up on the Card’s Pup list; Green!
Typical drunken Keim move. Get rid of Hassan Reddick, try to run off Chandler Jones and sign a player for way too much that is over the hill. How he remains a GM is beyond any of our thinking here in the valley. He creates hope with Hopkins and then quickly throws water on the fire.