Tag: J.J. Watt

Nov 21, 2021; Seattle, Washington, USA; Arizona Cardinals defensive end J.J. Watt (99) during the second half against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. Arizona defeated Seattle 23-13. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

Cardinals designate J.J. Watt to return from IR

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Arizona Cardinals designated defensive end J.J. Watt to return from injured reserve on Friday.

Watt can begin practicing Friday and can be activated to the 53-man roster at any time in the next 21 days.

NFL Network sources said the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year hopes to return for the first round of the playoffs.

The Cardinals (11-5) finish the regular season at home Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks (6-10).

Watt, 32, was placed on injured reserve on Nov. 6 following surgery to repair a torn labrum, torn rotator cuff and torn bicep. He sustained the injuries during Arizona’s Week 7 win against the Houston Texans, his former team.

He started the first seven games this season and recorded 16 tackles, 10 quarterback hits, one sack and one forced fumble.

Watt signed a two-year, $31 million deal with the Cardinals in March after playing his first 10 seasons with Houston.

This marked the fourth time in the last six seasons that Watt missed eight or more games. He has 102 career sacks, 26 forced fumbles, 16 fumble recoveries and two interceptions in 135 games since the Texans drafted him 11th overall in 2011.

–Field Level Media

Oct 24, 2021; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals defensive end J.J. Watt celebrates a play against the Houston Texans at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Cardinals’ J.J. Watt sustained multiple serious injuries

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Arizona Cardinals defensive end J.J. Watt sustained a torn labrum, torn bicep, torn rotator cuff and a dislocated shoulder in Sunday’s win against the Houston Texans, NFL Network reported.

Watt had already been ruled out of Thursday night’s game between the unbeaten Cardinals (7-0) and the visiting Green Bay Packers (6-1).

Previous reports said the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year needs shoulder surgery and is not expected to return this season.

Watt was injured when he attempted a diving tackle against Houston quarterback Davis Mills near the sideline. He somehow remained in the game before sitting out the fourth quarter of the 31-5 win.

Watt, 32, signed a two-year, $31 million deal with the Cardinals in March after playing his first 10 seasons with the Texans.

He started the first seven games this season and recorded 16 tackles, 10 quarterback hits, one sack and one forced fumble.

This will be the fourth time in the last six seasons that Watt will miss eight or more games. He has 102 career sacks, 26 forced fumbles, 16 fumble recoveries and two interceptions in 135 games since the Texans drafted him 11th overall in 2011.

–Field Level Media

Oct 24, 2021; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals defensive end J.J. Watt (99) forces Houston Texans quarterback Davis Mills (10) to throw the ball away in the first half at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-Arizona Republic Nfl Houston Texans At Arizona Cardinals

Cardinals rule out J.J. Watt for TNF with shoulder injury

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The Arizona Cardinals ruled out defensive end J.J. Watt for Thursday night’s game against the Green Bay Packers.

Arizona listed Watt as a non-participant all week due to a shoulder injury.

In his first season with the Cardinals after 10 years in Houston, Watt started the first seven games of the season and has recorded 16 tackles, 10 quarterback hits, one sack and one forced fumble.

He only played 30 defensive snaps in Week 7 against his former team, the Texans, before popping up on Arizona’s estimated injury report the next day.

Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, like Watt, was marked down as “DNP” all week with a hamstring injury. Hopkins, however, is listed as questionable for Thursday night.

On Green Bay’s side, tackle Dennis Kelly (back) was a limited participant in Wednesday’s practice but is doubtful for the game. Cornerback Kevin King (shoulder, back) and linebacker Preston Smith (oblique) are questionable.

The 7-0 Cardinals, the last undefeated team in the NFL, host the 6-1 Packers.

–Field Level Media

Sep 19, 2021; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman J.J. Watt (99) in the second half against the Minnesota Vikings at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Billy Hardiman-USA TODAY Sports

J.J. Watt says Texans ‘not the same organization that I remember’

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Arizona defensive end J.J. Watt will face his old team for the first time Sunday when the Cardinals visit the Houston Texans. But to Watt, while the city and the fans haven’t changed, the Texans themselves are barely recognizable.

Watt asked for and received his release from the Texans in February after spending the first 10 seasons of his NFL career with them. By that point, it was known that quarterback Deshaun Watson wanted to be traded and the team would be starting over with a new head coach.

Asked Thursday whether he expected such a poor start (the Texans are 1-5) and high amount of roster turnover in Houston when he requested his release, Watt replied with a simple, “Yes.”

“There’s obviously something more to (facing Houston),” Watt said. “I don’t think that it’s what people may think it is because, I mean, you look at the roster and you look at the guys that are there, I mean it’s been so massively turned over that there’s only a handful of guys that are even there from last year that I played with.

“So, it’s not like, I’m like, ‘Oh, I want to go and beat my old team’ or ‘Oh, I can’t wait to face this guy,’ because it’s not the same team. It’s not the same organization that I remember and that I was a part of.”

In 128 starts with the Texans, Watt compiled 101 sacks, 25 forced fumbles, 16 fumble recoveries and three defensive touchdowns. He won three NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards and the Walter Payton Man of the Year award while in Houston.

He found himself a good landing spot, at least in the short term. He joined former Texans teammate DeAndre Hopkins in Arizona, and the Cardinals are 6-0, the NFL’s lone unbeaten team. Hopkins will also face his old club for the first time Sunday.

The Texans, meanwhile, have lost five straight and are dealing with the fallout of more than 20 accusations of sexual misconduct against Watson, who has not played this year.

“That’s why it hurts me to see where it is now, because I believe those fans deserve to be living those high times and to be experiencing those great moments and it hurts to know that they’re not and to know that they’re struggling,” Watt said. “So, I hope that they get back there at some point and I hope that they get to do that because I know firsthand it’s an unbelievable place to play when you’re rolling.”

–Field Level Media

Cardinals defensive end J.J. Watt looks on from the sideline during the first half of the preseason game against the Chiefs at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on August 20, 2021. Cardinals Preseason

Cardinals activate J.J. Watt from PUP list

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The Arizona Cardinals activated defensive end J.J. Watt and linebacker Dennis Gardeck from the physically unable to perform list Monday.

Watt had been on the PUP list since before training camp with a hamstring issue. The Cardinals signed Watt to a two-year deal in March after he asked for and received his release from the Houston Texans in February.

Gardeck, 27, is returning from an ACL tear suffered late last season.

The team also activated wide receiver Andy Isabella off the reserve/COVID-19 list. He was placed on the list Aug. 11.

To make room on the roster, the team also announced the release of tight end Ian Bunting and wide receiver Rico Gafford, and waived/failed physical of defensive back Luq Barcoo.

Watt was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year on three occasions during his 10 seasons in Houston. He was also a first-team All-Pro five times and won the Walter Payton Man of the Year award in 2017 after raising more than $37 million for victims of Hurricane Harvey.

Watt played in 128 games with the Texans, despite losing chunks of three seasons to injuries. He played in just three games in 2016, five in 2017 and eight in 2019.

–Field Level Media

Dec 20, 2020; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) during warmups before the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

J.J. Watt, Cardinals agree to two-year deal

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Star defensive end J.J. Watt took to social media on Monday afternoon to announce that he is joining the Arizona Cardinals.

Watt wrote on Twitter “source: me” while posting a picture of himself working out in a Cardinals shirt.

The Cardinals confirmed that Watt agreed to a two-year deal but didn’t announce financial terms. Multiple media outlets reported Watt’s contract is worth $31 million with $23 million guaranteed.

Watt ended what he termed as a “wild” free agency after asking for — and receiving — his release from the Houston Texans on Feb. 12.

Watt, who will turn 32 on March 22, will join former Texans teammate DeAndre Hopkins with the Cardinals. Because he was released by the Texans, Watt is eligible to sign his contract now.

Watt was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year on three occasions during his 10 seasons in Houston. He was also a first-team All-Pro five times and won the Walter Payton Man of the Year award in 2017 after raising more than $37 million for victims of Hurricane Harvey.

He is the team’s all-time leader in sacks with 101, tackles for loss (172), quarterback hits (282) and forced fumbles (25). He has 531 career tackles, 61 passes defensed and 16 fumble recoveries since the Texans made him the No. 11 overall selection in the 2011 NFL Draft.

Watt played in 128 games with the Texans, despite losing chunks of three seasons to injuries. He played in just three games in 2016, five in 2017 and eight in 2019.

–Field Level Media

Dec 6, 2020; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) runs onto the field before the game against the Indianapolis Colts at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

J.J. Watt taps brakes on destination speculation

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J.J. Watt quickly tapped the brakes on speculation he was behind a hint about his free agency destination on Monday.

Watt took to Twitter to douse widespread reports that a change in his Peloton bio — with the words: “SB56…GB…CLE…BUF” — implied the Green Bay Packers, Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills could be his next destination.

The problem?

Watt said he doesn’t own a Peloton.

“I don’t own a bike. Stop,” Watt posted to Twitter.

ESPN reported the change in the bio earlier in the day.

The Packers, Browns and Bills all have been connected to Watt in his first foray into free agency. He’s also been in contact with the Tennessee Titans.

The update Monday appeared on the overview section of a bio for Peloton, the at-home bicycle trainer with a massive following, but the veteran defensive end said the account is not his.

The three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year last month described his initial experience on the open market as “wild.”

–Field Level Media

Dec 6, 2020; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) runs onto the field before the game against the Indianapolis Colts at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Free agent J.J. Watt reportedly has $15M-$16M offer

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Free agent J.J. Watt received at least one offer for $15 million to $16 million annually, ESPN reported on Thursday.

Watt was released by the Houston Texans at his request and the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year has described his first foray into the open market as “wild.”

Several teams have been connected to Watt, who was a first-round pick out of Wisconsin and spent his entire career to this point with the Texans.

The home-state Green Bay Packers, Cleveland Browns, Tennessee Titans, Indianapolis Colts, Las Vegas Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers and Buffalo Bills are rumored to be contenders.

Watt might not be basing his decision entirely on money, considering his contract with the Texans would have paid him $17.5 million in 2021.

Watt turns 32 on March 22 and ESPN reported he has received “multiple offers.”

–Field Level Media

Dec 27, 2020; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) waits with teammates to walk onto the field before a game against the Cincinnati Bengals at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

J.J. Watt: ‘Free agency is wild’

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First-time NFL free agent J.J. Watt resurfaced publicly for the first time since he was granted his unconditional release by the Houston Texans to describe his ongoing foray into the open market.

“Free agency is wild,” Watt, 31, said via Twitter on Wednesday.

The three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year was swarmed with interest in the hours after he was let go by the Texans. A report on Tuesday from Cleveland.com said Watt finds the Browns an attractive landing spot. In Watt’s opinion, the Browns are positioned to make a Super Bowl run. Further, the Browns have $21.7 million in cap space; Watt was set to make $17.5 million in 2021.

Plus, defensive end Myles Garrett (12 sacks in 2020) would be on the other side.

There are numerous suitors for the five-time All-Pro.

Tennessee general manager Jon Robinson said Tuesday that the Titans have reached out to Watt’s agents. Pittsburgh, Buffalo and Green Bay are also potential suitors. However, the Steelers and Packers are $30 million and $19 million over the cap, respectively.

Watt’s former teammate in Houston, Arizona wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, also took to social media Tuesday to woo Watt, photo-shopping Watt in a Cardinals uniform. Free agent wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster told Watt to “come play with your brothers” — T.J. and Derek — in Pittsburgh.

The Browns reached out to Watt’s agents Friday after his release from Houston, per the report.

Watt is Houston’s all-time leader in sacks with 101, tackles for loss (172), quarterback hits (282) and forced fumbles (25). He has 531 career tackles, 61 passes defensed and 16 fumble recoveries since the Texans made him the No. 11 overall selection in the 2011 NFL Draft.

–Field Level Media

Jun 11, 2019; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans defensive end JJ Watt (99) talks to the media during a press conference in the media room at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports

Report: J.J. Watt ‘seriously considering’ joining Browns

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Three-time Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt is reportedly “seriously considering” taking his talents to the Cleveland Browns amid teams and players putting on the full-court press for the defensive end’s services in 2021.

Watt and the Houston Texans agreed to part ways late last week. Watt asked for his release and got it after 10 seasons with the club.

Cleveland.com reported Tuesday that Watt finds the Browns an attractive landing spot because they’re now positioned well to make a Super Bowl run. Further, the Browns have $21.7 million in cap space; Watt was set to make $17.5 million in 2021.

Plus, defensive end Myles Garrett (12 sacks in 2020) is on the other side.

But there’s competition for the five-time All-Pro. Tennessee general manager Jon Robinson said Tuesday that the Titans have reached out to Watt’s agents. Pittsburgh, Buffalo and Green Bay are also potential suitors. However, the Steelers and Packers are $30 million and $19 million over the cap, respectively.

Watt’s former teammate in Houston, Arizona wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, also took to social media Tuesday to woo Watt, photo-shopping Watt in a Cardinals uniform. Free agent wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster told Watt to “come play with your brothers” in Pittsburgh.

The Browns reached out to Watt’s agents Friday after his release from Houston, per the report.

Watt is Houston’s all-time leader in sacks with 101, tackles for loss (172), quarterback hits (282) and forced fumbles (25). He has 531 career tackles, 61 passes defensed and 16 fumble recoveries since the Texans made him the No. 11 overall selection in the 2011 NFL Draft.

–Field Level Media