Cardinals designate five-time All-Pro DE J.J. Watt to return from IR
When J.J. Watt was placed on injured reserve in early November after suffering a shoulder injury, it was widely reported that the star defensive end's ailment would be a season-ending one. Just two days before their Week 18 regular-season finale, the Arizona Cardinals made a surprise announcement regarding the three-time Defensive Player of the Year.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport tweeted Friday morning that Watt was "planning" to return to the field during the first week of the playoffs. The Cardinals started off the season 7-0, but since Watt's injury, they have gone just 4-5, including a current 1-3 stretch.
At 11-5, Arizona has already clinched a postseason berth and will finish no lower than its current spot as the No. 5 seed. With a win on Sunday over the Seattle Seahawks, coupled with a Los Angeles Rams loss to the San Francisco 49ers, Watt's team would win the NFC West and could grab the No. 2 seed.
After 10 years with the Houston Texans, Watt signed a two-year contract with the Cardinals in March 2021. In seven games this season, Watt has recorded 16 tackles, 10 quarterback hits, one sack and one forced fumble.
The 32-year-old started his NFL career by playing in 80 consecutive regular-season games over his first five seasons, making four Pro Bowls and being named First-Team All-Pro four times. This season marked the fourth time in the last six years his campaign has been cut short due to injury.
Watt was limited to three games in 2016 and five games in 2017, before bouncing back with a full 16-game season in 2018 in which he made his fifth Pro Bowl, was named First-Team All-Pro for the fifth time. He led the NFL with seven forced fumbles. He was only able to play eight games in 2019 and appeared in all 16 contests in 2020.
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