Arizona Cardinals' J.J. Watt Poised to Make Miraculous Return From Injury

When Arizona Cardinals' defensive end J.J. Watt underwent shoulder surgery following a Week 7 win over his former team, the Texans, it was thought to be a season-ending procedure. It was reported that he had suffered injuries to his labrum, bicep and rotator cuff, and a return at any point in the season, including the playoffs, was considered a long shot. Fast-forward to Week 18, and The 11-5 Cardinals find themselves in exactly that predicament - on the verge of Wildcard Weekend, with an important decision to make on the potential return of the 3-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

The Cardinals made a bold move this week, officially designating Watt to return from injured reserve, and opening the door for a potential playoff appearance from the former 11th overall pick: Coach Kliff Kingsbury said the following regarding Watt playing on Monday vs. the L.A. Rams:

He's done all he can do in the training room and weight room. So we'll get him back out there, work him through some things.

But he's attacked that rehab just like you'd assume he would. Nobody's seen anybody go at it quite like he has over the past couple months. It's been awe-inspiring to watch him every day and it's always good to have him back on the field.

While it's far from a guarantee, at no point did he give the indication that Watt wouldn't be playing this Monday, and furthermore, J.J. himself has said that he's done some work with offensive linemen to simulate the kind of contact he would face in a game. The team is very hopeful for his return and it seems more likely than not, we'll see J.J. Watt take the field on Monday vs. The Rams. We'll have more information on this story following Thursday's practice which many expect Watt to attend.