Cardinals could get Watt for postseason
The a Cardinals are a team in desperate need of a spark, stumbling into the playoffs with a 1-4 mark over the past five games. J.J. Watt and his bionic left shoulder might be able to provide it.
The three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year is trying to complete an unlikely comeback from a serious shoulder injury in an effort to help the Arizona defense when the Cardinals travel to Southern California to face the Rams on Monday night in the wild-card round.
“The only thing that matters to me is being out there for my teammates, trying to help us win a game and get to the end goal,” Watt said Wednesday. “That's all this is about. I'm not doing all this work and not trying to come back in half the time for no reason.“
The idea Watt could return seemed absurd in late October. The injury was serious and the 11-year veteran confirmed most of the details Wednesday, including a dislocated shoulder, torn rotator cuff, torn labrum and capsule. He also dislocated his biceps tendon and had surgery Nov. 3.
Doctors told Watt a normal expectation for a return was four to six months. A little more than two months later, he could be back.
There are no guarantees he'll actually be on the field against the Rams. He has tested the shoulder against offensive linemen in simulated situations, but a real practice Thursday is the next step.
“It's been a lot of work, it's been a lot of time put in by a lot of people that I'm very thankful for,” said the 6-foot-5, 288pound defensive end. “And I'm just looking forward to getting out there, seeing how it goes, and help this team get to where it wants to go.”
Ratings up, offense down:
An extra week of games, close finishes and a non-election year helped propel the NFL to its highest regular-season ratings in six years.
The 272 regular-season games averaged 17.1 million viewers across television and digital platforms, a 10% increase over 2020 and the NFL's highest average since 2015.
This was also the first season when the league played 17 regular-season games. There were not many blowouts. According to the league, 64% of all games this season were within one score in the fourth quarter.
Average points per game for teams dropped from a record 24.8 in 2021 to 23 this season as improved defense, quarterback-related COVID absences, more holding calls and visiting teams dealing with crowds likely made an impact.
The drop of 1.8 points per game per team was the secondbiggest decline since the merger, behind the 2.0 points per game from 1976 to 1977.
Briefly: Eric Weddle, 37, is coming out of retirement to rejoin the safety-deprived Rams for the playoffs . ... Green Bay outside linebacker Za'Darius Smith is practicing, raising hopes the 2020 Pro Bowl selection could return for the playoffs after missing nearly the entire season with a back injury . ... The Buccaneers again put former 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman on injured reserve, this time with an Achilles injury.