Former Defensive Player of the Year, J.J. Watt, recently commented on his teammate, Kyler Murray, not attending the Arizona Cardinals voluntary OTAs this week.
This week marks the start of the first OTA session for the Arizona Cardinals as they prepare for the 2022 season. Several veteran Cardinals players have decided to skip the voluntary sessions this week, including quarterback Kyler Murray.
Despite not being the only veteran Arizona player to not attend the team’s OTAs this week, Murray‘s absence has, unsurprisingly, turned into a big deal.
To the leaders in the actual Cardinals locker room, however, none seem to really care that their team’s starting quarterback isn’t working out with them at Arizona’s practice facility this week.
J.J. Watt doesn’t sound worried about Kyler Murray skipping Arizona Cardinals OTAs
During a Zoom call with some of the local media on Tuesday, Cardinals defensive lineman J.J. Watt was asked if it matters that his team’s starting quarterback is not participating OTAs this week.
Watt responded with a simple, “no,” and then he was asked why he doesn’t think it matters. Arizona’s veteran defender delivered an answer with a similar lack of concern.
"“All I need him to be there for is the first game of the [2022 season] and play good.”"
It’s safe to say that Watt isn’t worried at all about Murray not being in attendance this week. Could he have a different reaction if the quarterback decides to skip the Cardinals’ mandatory minicamp in a few weeks? One would imagine that Watt would at least be slightly concerned if this were to happen.
But for now, Arizona’s veteran pass rusher isn’t worried about Murray deciding to not participate in the team’s voluntary workouts this week.
To be honest, anyone who actually is concerned about the Cardinals’ top quarterback skipping some voluntary strength and conditioning sessions, something that guys like Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers have done multiple times in their careers, should follow Watt’s lead and take a deep breath.