The final day of practice for the Arizona Cardinals for the 2022 season arrived on Friday, with players and coaches gathering for the final time on the practice field at team headquarters.
It was also the final practice of defensive lineman JJ Watt’s outstanding NFL career. As Watt announced last month, he has one game left before he leaves football.
“Going out for the last practice today was the kind of thing I never thought about until I got out there. See you soon,” Watt said. “It’s going to be an emotional game and I don’t think it’s going to be too bad until the first game of next season. I can tell you that.”
The team will play the season finale with the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif. on Sunday. The 49ers will surely play with purpose. If the Philadelphia Eagles lose a game to the New York Giants, they can challenge for the number one seed in the NFC playoffs.
The Cardinals will be playing with a roster that looks nothing like their early-season roster or the roster they had before so many injuries took their toll. And, as the player pointed out, this will be the last time this particular group of teammates will suit up together.
It will be the last time Watt will wear an NFL uniform. He addressed the team on Friday.
“I told them after practice, everyone’s day will come one day. No one can play it forever,” Watt said. “So today is my day.”
Watt is dealing with a groin injury but won’t be off the field Sunday in front of his wife, son and parents. It’s useless and takes away good pass rushing footholds.
“It’s okay. I’ve dealt with worse things before,” he said.
Watt spends 20 minutes reminiscing about his best moments on the NFL football field, how much he’s looking forward to seeing his brothers TJ and Derek (both with the Pittsburgh Steelers) play, and after Sack and Sack’s careers. We talked about what we heard from fans. In addition to hard work, he made a huge impact on the Houston community where he played before joining the Cardinals.
“I’m really overwhelmed. I’m expecting emails, calls and messages. But I’m really overwhelmed and I’m grateful to all the people, all the fans and everyone who reached out to me. “Because it was special,” Watt said. “And it brought back memories that I haven’t thought about in a long time, and it’s really cool to relive some of those memories and reconnect with so many people.”
Teammates are looking to win again for players like Watt and other longtime players nearing the end of their careers.
“Think of a player like JJ. Everyone is just trying to play hard and try to win,” said defensive lineman Michael Dogbe.
Watt admitted that it was difficult to survive a 4-12 season, but one of his goals was to encourage young players as much as possible in hopes that future Cardinals could turn things around next season. It was to convey and convey a lot of wisdom and advice.
“We know what it’s like to have fun in this league, to win, and to have a blast around…a great team, so I really hope they get where they want to go,” Watt said. I want that for every player in that locker room. ”
Kingsbury tight-lipped about future
Kingsbury was asked directly if he or his staff had received assurances that they would be retained, and Kingsbury did not say he speaks daily with owner Michael Bidwill.
“At the moment we’re just thinking about winning this game. So we’re not talking about the postseason, we’re not talking about moves. We’re just talking about current issues and winning,” Kingsbury said. Told.
Is he going to be the head coach next year?
“We’ll focus on Sunday and beyond. But like I said, all our talk was just about how to win this game,” Kingsbury said.
No matter what happens, changes are underway for the Cardinals for next season. They can start with a new general manager or a new head coach. Then new assistant coaches and departing free agents, and new players through drafts and free agency.
“We’ve all faced a lot of ups and downs and a lot of adversity, but like I’ve said from the beginning, they’re a tight-knit group,” Kingsbury said. , we’re just trying to enjoy each other these 48 hours, trying to play our best game.”
No Connor, maybe no Collins
The Cardinals were already challenging for talent and depth due to a number of season-ending injuries on their roster. .
Collins, one of the Cardinals’ leading tacklers, is one of just three players to start every game this season.
Corey Clement and Keontay Ingram kick Connor out and run back. Ty’Son Williams is expected to be brought up from the practice squad to provide running back depth.
quick out
- Watt said Buffalo Bills safety Dumar Hamlin’s injury was one of the most “chilling, heartbreaking, terrifying things” he’s ever seen in a football game. said it was. “It puts your whole life in perspective right away. It puts everything in perspective. And I mean, I obviously had heart problems earlier this year,” Watt said of the heart shock. He mentioned that he needed to regain his rhythm after receiving
- Practice squad tight end Bernhard Seikowitz has one more season left as a roster spot waiver by the NFL’s International Player Pathway. He has his film in the preseason games and hopes to make an impact in 2023 and see if that leads to a future deal or a chance with another team, and next season he’ll be back with the Cardinals. will get that opportunity.
- The Cardinals placed safety Chris Banjo and defensive lineman Jonathan Ledbetter on the injured reserve Friday. This brings his injury tally to 19, his third highest in the league.