Veteran defensive lineman J.J. Watt is still amongst the top defensive players in all of football when healthy for the Arizona Cardinals, but he has been often off the field due to injuries in the past few seasons.
An update from the Cardinals revealed that Watt will be out for the remainder of the preseason for another reason.
Watt was not present for the team’s preseason game on Sunday due to a positive COVID-19 test result, and the five-time Pro Bowler will also miss the team’s following preseason game against the Tennessee Titans next week.
After testing positive for COVID, JJ Watt will not be present for tonight’s game vs Baltimore nor the team’s trip to Tennessee this week.
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) August 21, 2022
Many are hoping that this doesn’t lead to another year of Watt missing significant time on the field in the regular season next year.
I'm surprised COVID didn't miss the game because it got JJ Watt-ed https://t.co/oP9hh8Euu0
— longhorndave (@longhorndave) August 21, 2022
https://twitter.com/mikejurecki/status/1561486586444800000
The rollercoaster year continues https://t.co/feKOPbbL3L
— Raising Zona (@RaisingZona) August 21, 2022
Prayers for healing and recovery soon! God keep players safe 🙏🏾 https://t.co/WaHfhFtYbf
— Sandra Wooten (@WootenSandra) August 22, 2022
Luckily it appears that Watt is in good spirits following the diagnosis, joking about how he could have possibly contracted the virus after a viral story of Watt emerged dealing with a snake in his bathroom.
I think the snake brought it in the house… https://t.co/4pcOVKRKLh
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) August 21, 2022
The 2021-22 season was a forgettable one for Watt, starting only 7 games last season after tearing his labrum, bicep, and rotator cuff in Week 7.
He was able to return for the playoffs for the Cardinals, but did not play much of an impact in their only game against the Los Angeles Rams, likely due to being rusty from his time off the field.
Luckily for Watt and the Cardinals, he will have plenty of time to recover from this illness for the team’s first game against the Kansas City Chiefs on September 11th.
