Watt announced Tuesday in a post on his personal Twitter account that the Cardinals' 19-16 loss to the Buccaneers on Sunday marked his "last ever NFL home game."
While Watt hasn't explicitly said that he'll be retiring following the 2022 season, his Twitter post certainly indicated that's his plan. The defensive end's two-year, $28 million contract with Arizona is set to expire this spring, and with injuries having cost him extended time in recent years, the 33-year-old may be motivated to step away from the game coming off a relatively healthy season. Though the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year is no longer playing at an All-Pro level, Watt has been productive in 2022, accruing 33 tackles, 9.5 sacks, six pass breakups and one forced fumble through 14 appearances.
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Cardinals' J.J. Watt: Limited practice Wednesday
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Watt (calf) practiced in a limited capacity Wednesday, Tyler Drake of ArizonaSports.com reports.
Watt revealed Sunday morning that he was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation last week and had his heart shocked back into rhythm. He still played Week 4 in Carolina and logged his highest snap share (79 percent) of the season. His performance included multiple pass defenses, one of which was picked off by teammate Dennis Gardeck in the fourth quarter and returned to the Panthers' five-yard line. Watt appears as if he'll continue to play through the heart issue, though his practice limitations are being chalked up to the calf injury that's bothered him since Week 1 prep.
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Cardinals' J.J. Watt: Plans to play despite heart issue
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Watt (calf) said Sunday via his personal Twitter account that he is planning to play Sunday against the Panthers despite having his heart shocked Thursday.
Watt is listed on the injury report this week with a calf injury, but it appears that is not the only health issue he is dealing with. Watt's condition certainly sounds worrisome, but it's looking like it will not prevent him from suiting up for Week 4.
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Cardinals' J.J. Watt: Clear for season debut
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Watt (calf) is active for Sunday's game at Las Vegas, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.
Watt was sidelined for Arizona's season-opening defeat to the Chiefs, but he appears to be putting his calf injury in the rearview mirror. While he is suiting up Sunday, he may operate under a snap count considering how muddled his medical chart is at this point in his career. Still, Watt will join Markus Golden and Dennis Gardeck as the team's top pass rushers.
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Cardinals' J.J. Watt: Remains sidelined at practice
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Watt (calf) was a non-participant at practice Wednesday, Kevin Parrish Jr. of the Cardinals' official site reports.
Coach Kliff Kingsbury termed Watt "day-to-day" on Monday, and he didn't elaborate much more Wednesday, saying, "We'll see," regarding his status for Week 2 at Las Vegas. Whenever Watt is healthy enough for his season debut, he'll operate with Markus Golden as the Cardinals' top pass-rushing options.
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Cardinals' J.J. Watt: Remains day-to-day
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Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury said Monday that Watt (calf) is considered day-to-day, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.
Watt was inactive for the season opener due to a calf injury, but it appears like he'll have a shot at playing in Week 2. Wednesday's initial injury report should provide further clarity on the issue, though the official decision may not come until closer to Sunday. If he misses a second straight game, Markus Golden and Dennis Gardeck would likely have added responsibilities once again.
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Cardinals' J.J. Watt: Questionable for opener
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Watt (calf) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Chiefs, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.
The oft-injured star lineman appears truly questionable, at best, after missing practice Wednesday through Friday. The Cardinals already have CB Trayvon Mullen (toe) ruled out and CB Byron Murphy (illness) listed as questionable, potentially allowing QB Patrick Mahomes to take aim at a depleted coverage unit and depleted D-line. It's a good matchup for KC in the first place and only gets better if Watt and/or Murphy can't play.
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Cardinals' J.J. Watt: Misses practice again
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Watt (calf) did not participate in Thursday's practice, Darren Urban of the team's official site reports.
Watt's was listed as a DNP during Arizona's practice for the second consecutive day, leaving his availability for Sunday's season opener against Kansas City up in the air. Should the three-time DPOY fail to suit up against the Chiefs, defensive ends Michael Dogbe and Jonathan Ledbetter figure to be next in line to start for the Cardinals.
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Cardinals' J.J. Watt: Dealing with calf injury
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Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury said Wednesday that Watt (COVID-19) is dealing with a calf injury and is considered day-to-day, Taylor Bisciotti of NFL Network reports.
Watt tested positive for COVID-19 and missed the final two preseason contests but is now dealing with a calf injury. The veteran defensive end didn't practice Wednesday, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, and his status for Sunday's season opener against the Chiefs remains unclear.
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Cardinals' J.J. Watt: Tests positive for COVID-19
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Watt has tested positive for COVID-19 and won't be available for the Cardinals' final two preseason games.
Watt didn't appear in the Cardinals' preseason opener against the Bengals last Friday, and he won't be with the team for the final two preseason matchups. It seems likely that he'll be back with the team in time for its Week 1 matchup against Kansas City.
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Cardinals' J.J. Watt: Traveling with team
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Watt (shoulder) is traveling with the Cardinals ahead of Monday's wild-card matchup against the Rams, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Watt hasn't officially been activated from injured reserve since the Cardinals can wait until 4:00 p.m. ET on Monday before making a final decision, but the defensive end appears to have a good chance to suit up for Monday's postseason opener. The 32-year-old has been sidelined since suffering a shoulder injury in Week 8 that required surgery, but he's been able to ramp up his activity level at practice ahead of Monday's matchup.
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Cardinals' J.J. Watt: Trending in right direction
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Watt (shoulder) avoided any setbacks in Thursday's practice and in trending in the right direction for Monday's wild-card matchup against the Rams, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Watt has been ramping up his activity at practice and appears to have a real shot at suiting up for the Cardinals' playoff opener, though he could be on a snap count if he does take the field. The veteran pass rusher has been sidelined since Week 8 due to what at the time seemed like a season-ending shoulder injury.
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Cardinals' J.J. Watt: Status for wild-card round unclear
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Coach Kliff Kingsbury said Watt (shoulder) was "very limited" in Thursday's practice session, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.
Watt was cleared to return to practice last week but still has limitations ahead of Monday's wild-card matchup against the Rams. The Cardinals will presumably continue to monitor the 32-year-old's participation in practice Friday and Saturday before determining his status.
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Cardinals' J.J. Watt: Won't play Week 18
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Watt (shoulder) was designated to return from injured reserve Friday, but he won't play in Sunday's contest against the Seahawks, Howard Balzer of SI.com reports.
Watt has been sidelined since Week 8 and was expected to miss the rest of the season. However, the veteran pass rusher has once again surpassed injury expectations and is set up for a possible playoff return. Before his shoulder injury, Watt played at least 40 defensive snaps in all six games and totaled 15 tackles, two pass deflections and one sack during those contests. It's unclear how big of a role he will have if he's available during the playoffs, but given his history, it'll be hard to keep him off the field if he's medically cleared to play.
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Cardinals' J.J. Watt: Officially designated for return
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The Cardinals have designated Watt (shoulder) for return from injured reserve.
Watt has made a habit of surpassing expectations in his NFL career, and though he was expected to miss the rest of the season after undergoing shoulder surgery late October, it now looks like the veteran defensive end is ahead of schedule in his recovery and could make a return during the playoffs. The 32-year-old can be activated to the 53-man roster at any point in the next 21-day window, during which span he will be evaluated at practice.
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Cardinals' J.J. Watt: Set for season-ending surgery
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Watt is expected to undergo season-ending surgery on his shoulder, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Watt had already been ruled out for Thursday's game against the Packers, but he's now expected to miss the remainder of the season due to the shoulder injury he suffered in the second quarter of Arizona's Week 7 win over the Texans. Injuries have derailed Watt's career in recent years, and the upcoming shoulder surgery is the latest major blow for the 32-year-old defensive end. If he's indeed done for 2021, Watt will finish the campaign with 16 tackles (10 solo) and one sack.
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Cardinals' J.J. Watt: Not playing Thursday
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Watt (shoulder) has been ruled out for Thursday's game versus the Packers, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports.
Watt is sitting out for the first time in a Cardinals uniform due to a shoulder injury that didn't allow him to practice Monday through Wednesday. With Corey Peters (illness) on the reserve/COVID-19 list, Jack Crawford (undisclosed) on injured reserve and Rashard Lawrence (calf) questionable for Thursday, the team may be down to just five healthy defensive linemen this week.
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Cardinals' J.J. Watt: Comes off PUP list
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The Cardinals activated Watt (hamstring) from the PUP list Monday.
Watt spent the bulk of training camp working his way back from a hamstring concern, missing Arizona's first two preseason games in the process. As expected, he got on the practice field again Monday, but it now remains to be seen if he'll be cleared to make an appearance in the team's exhibition finale Saturday in New Orleans. If not, the Cardinals' pass rush won't be fully unleashed until Week 1.
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Texans' J.J. Watt: Deflects four passes
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Watt recorded two tackles, including one for a loss, and four passes defensed in Sunday's 27-20 win over the Patriots.
Watt tormented quarterback Cam Newton while getting his hands on a single-game career-high four passes, including two during a drive on which New England was within shouting distance of the end zone in the fourth quarter. He has seven pass blocks for the season.
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Texans' J.J. Watt: No injury tag for Week 2
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Watt (hip) does not have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Ravens.
Watt was limited in practice all week, but it doesn't look as though he was ever truly dealing with an injury that threatened his status for Week 2. The veteran defensive end has played only one full 16-game slate since 2016, so the Texans may simply intend to limit his practice reps as a precaution going forward.
