Arizona Cardinals: J.J. Watt can still put up monster numbers

When Arizona Cardinals defensive end J.J. Watt went down with a calf injury in 2022, no one would have thought he would see a career resurgence. 

While it’s farfetched to believe Arizona Cardinals defensive end J.J. Watt will be back in 2023, he at least gave fans a reason to keep watching the Redbirds this season. Watt recorded three sacks, three tackles for a loss, and three quarterback hits in the Cardinals 24-15 loss against the Denver Broncos, bringing his totals to 9.5 sacks and 19 quarterback hits in 2022.

If you are keeping track, it’s his highest sack total since 2018 when he recorded 16. He only needs another half-sack to return to double-digit numbers for the sixth time in his 12-year career. Watt also only needs one more quarterback hit to break 20, which he last recorded in 2019.

Arizona Cardinals defensive end J.J. Watt still a bright spot

Despite an early season calf injury, Watt has been one of the Arizona Cardinals most productive players. Now in the twilight of his career, the 33-year-old future Hall of Famer may not be in a Cardinals uniform next season, but it would be shocking to say the least if he decided to call it quits.

Watt’s three sacks today brought his career total to 111.5. His big afternoon also let him break the top 40 in all-time sack leaders, surpassing Randy White, Justin Houston, and putting him well within striking distance of former Arizona Cardinal, Chandler Jones.

With three games left in what has been a memorable season for all the wrong reasons, Watt can continue to be a beacon of light amidst the shroud of darkness surrounding this snake-bitten NFL franchise. Watt is on pace to record 12 sacks this season if he continues his high-octane play, and perhaps audition to finish his career with an NFL franchise in contention to hoist the Lombardi Trophy for 2023.

(Statistics provided by Pro-Football-Reference)

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