J.J. Watt’s availability for the Arizona Cardinals is still up in the air, but the veteran defensive end is sure of one thing – he won’t be playing Sunday.
Watt met with reporters Wednesday ahead of Monday night’s wild card game against the Los Angeles Rams when one reporter asked him if he would be ready for Sunday – seemingly confused about the new NFL playoff schedule.
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Arizona Cardinals defensive end J.J. Watt (99) celebrates after teammate Corey Peters recovered a Titans fumble Sept. 12, 2021, in Nashville, Tennessee.
(AP Photo/Wade Payne)
“I will not be playing on Sunday,” Watt said after looking off to the side. “We do not have a game on Sunday, so no.”
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This year marks the first time the NFL’s Super Wild Card Weekend will feature a Monday night game – so it was an honest mistake on the reporter’s part. The league previously expanded the playoffs last season to include a third wild card team in each conference, a first since 1990.
Cardinals defensive end J.J. Watt celebrates a defensive stop against the Houston Texans on Oct. 24, 2021, in Glendale, Arizona.
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Watt has missed two months after undergoing shoulder surgery on Nov. 3 and while he seems to be nearing a return, he said he won’t rush it unless he’s ready.
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J.J. Watt of the Cardinals reacts after a tackle against the Houston Texans on Oct. 24, 2021, in Glendale, Arizona.
(AP Photo/Darryl Webb)
“From a performance standpoint, I’m not going to put myself on the field if it’s going to put my team in a worse situation,” he said. “That’s not even a question. I’m not going to step on the field if I am not able to do the things that I need to do to help us win games.”
