Arizona Cardinals defensive end J.J. Watt was quick to scold the media for reporting on his health, admitting that he did suffer a heartbeat issue while announcing he would nevertheless play in Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers.
Watt, 33, wrote in a tweet that he heard the news was going out today after someone “leaked personal information” about him.
“I went into A-Fib on Wednesday, had my heart shocked back into rhythm on Thursday and I’m playing today. That’s it,” he tweeted.
Atrial fibrillation is an irregular and often very rapid heart rhythm, called arrhythmia, that can lead to blood clots in the heart, according to the Mayo Clinic.
I was just told somebody leaked some personal information about me and it’s going to be reported on today.
I went into A-Fib on Wednesday, had my heart shocked back into rhythm on Thursday and I’m playing today.
That’s it.
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) October 2, 2022
Watt was not at practice on Wednesday or Thursday this week but returned to practice on Friday.
In #AZCardinals open part of practice, DE J.J. Watt returned to work, as you can see below.
Not working:
WR A.J. Green
DT Rashard Lawrence (already ruled out)
LB Ezekiel Turner pic.twitter.com/7c4Tu4jjUT— Darren Urban (@Cardschatter) September 30, 2022
He is currently listed as “questionable” for game status in week four of the NFL season. According to the Arizona Cardinals, he has the team’s only two sacks of the season.
The Arizona Cardinals tweeted a video of Watt signing a football and throwing it into the crowd on Sunday afternoon, a few hours before the game. It is set to begin at 4:05 p.m. ET.
JJ Watt is a man of the people ?@JJWatt x #BirdCityFootball pic.twitter.com/LsbXruHByB
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) October 2, 2022
Watt, a three-time defensive player of the year, has suffered injuries over the last few years, halting his ability to play, according to a USA Today report.
In 2021, his first season in Arizona, an arm injury cost him 10 games. Watt also missed half of the 2019 season with a torn pectoral muscle, and he played eight games between 2016 and 2017.
