J.J. Watt did his usual shadow work against a goal post before the game at Bank of America Stadium.
That included his usual high knee-bending sprints, the usual quick-burst runs, followed by a walk around the stadium by the 6-foot-5, 288-pound PiedPiper of Fun, who was going to play a game of catch football with kids and teenagers who were wearing any of
The biggest, baddest man on the field cried like a baby.
If you pardon the observation, it was emotional, authentic, and beautiful.
Watt, the three-time Defensive Player of the Year and future Hall of Famer, could have died last Wednesday when his heart went into a rapid rhythm. Though the condition isn't always serious but can be and causes an irregular and often very rapid heart rhythm, all we know is that medical personnel shocked his heart back into its normal rhythm the next day, he was pronounced fit to play.
He had three tackles and two turnovers, the second of which led to a Kyler Murray touchdown run in the fourth quarter that gave the Cards a 26-16 victory.
Coach Kliff Kingsbury said after the game that it shows what type of person he is. He's unique. When he wasn't around for a few days, we were worried about handling the tests. It was definitely inspiring for everyone. The game was played at a high level. He's the type of person and player he is.
J.J. Watt made a key play days after being treated for an irregular heartbeat.
Watt has made some amazing comebacks in his 12 year career. He battled his way back from surgeries to repair a broken hand, a battered back, and a fractured leg. He was able to return from an injury that was supposed to end his season. He was expected to miss the entire season due to shoulder surgery, but he made a full recovery.
This, but this?
Watt has had injuries before, but he has never been afraid. I have never been afraid of anesthesia, I have never been afraid of surgery, and I have never been afraid of pain. I was scared when they said they were going to shock me.
Which one would be? Watt was told there was nothing else he could do. The rapid heartbeat, which can lead to risks of a blood clot, stroke, heart failure and other problems, could return in a day or two.
A situation like the one Watt experienced isn't rare and often isn't life threatening, according to the director of cardiac electrophysiology and pacing at Providence St. John's Health Center in Santa Monica, Calif.
Watt should consider having a procedure to fix the cells in his heart that are malfunctioning. The procedure is performed 100,000 times a year in the U.S., he said, and although the patient must be treated with blood thinners for two months afterwards, he suggests Watt have it done now instead of waiting for another A-fib to occur.
The procedure would prevent Watt from playing football for at least eight weeks. Watt may have to have a second procedure if the situation continues.
Doshi has no idea of Watt's individual situation.
He needs to have it. The team has to decide if it's worth it to have J.J. ready at the end of the season or not.
If you get to Week 10, he's out for the playoffs. There isn't a right answer and I think it's a good idea to get it done now and have him for the end of the season.
The ArizonaCardinals found improvement in their win over the CarolinaPanthers.
As he stood in front of a podium near the visitor's locker room in Charlotte after Sunday's game, Watt said he wished the entire issue had never been revealed. He broke the news because he caught wind that Jay Glazer was going to announce it without his permission.
That is a different part of the story, which should be further explored, but Watt's decision to suit up and play doesn't really matter. If Kealia hadn't been by his side, he wouldn't have done it.
Playing football has always meant something to Justin James Watt, a five-time first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowler.
He didn't know what to do. I have been playing this game for a long time. They said that if you feel comfortable, you're fine. I think I would be more uneasy sitting on my couch. I know what this is. If I was watching the boys play and they said I was fine to play, I would have felt weird, so I just did what I knew.
Watt was aware that something else was going on. He and Kealia are going to have a baby boy in the next few weeks. Watt might not have said it, but he couldn't hide his feelings when he was asked about it.
He had pauses in his voice. He hid his eyes and began to cry. He cried while trying to fight it.
Watt finally said, "For months we've been looking at the pictures of our baby boy and they're all very happy and then Thursday we looked at the pictures of my heart." It was a difficult thing to do. It has been a few days. It's been a week but I'm happy to be here.
It wasn't easy in the small press conference room for Watt or any of the dozen or so people who were there to watch it. When Watt was asked if he considered not playing at all.
It's true. He said yes. It has been difficult. It was strange. It's just strange. I'm pregnant with a baby.
That is one of the reasons why Watt should have the procedure done right now. He would be tired for the first couple of days but would still be able to work out and have some time with his family.
All we know is that we didn't fix it yet. Expecting him to play high-level athletics and to put his body through what he has been put through, he will probably have it again unless we fix it at some point.
After signing Billy Price to the 53-man active roster, the Cards parted ways with former second-round draft pick Andy Isabella.
The third wide receiver from the draft to have been released is Isabella, who had two catches for 21 yards in three games. A fourth-round pick and a sixth-round pick were let go.
Matt Ammendola, a free-agent kicker, has been signed to the practice squad by the Cards. If veteran kicker Matt Prater is not able to kick this Sunday, Ammendola was brought as an insurance policy. During the fourth quarter of Sunday's win at Carolina, he was unable to kick off because of a hip problem.
Ammendola has made 13 of 19 field goals for the Jets and 3 of 4 field goals for the Chiefs this season.
Are you a fan of the Arizona Cards? McManaman can be reached at bob.mcmanaman@arizonarepublic.com and he can also be followed on social media. On Tuesday afternoons at 3:30, you can listen to him on Fox Sports 905-AM.
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The article was originally published on the Arizona Republic.
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