Arizona Cardinals star J.J. Watt plays 4 days after having atrial fibrillation
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By Bob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Arizona Cardinals defensive end J.J. Watt played four days after having his heart shocked into rhythm after going into atrial fibrillation.
He described the health issue in an emotional post-game press conference, ESPN reported.
Watt played in Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers. He played 41 of 51 defensive snaps and finished with three tackles and two batted passes in the Cardinals’ 26-16 victory over the Panthers.
Watt, 33, a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year winner, tweeted the news media shortly after noon EDT on Sunday, four hours before the Cardinals were to face the Panthers in Charlotte, North Carolina.
“I was just told somebody leaked some personal information about me and it’s going to be reported on today,” Watt tweeted. “I went into A-Fib on Wednesday, had my heart shocked back into rhythm on Thursday and I’m playing today.
“That’s it.”
Watt, a five-time All-Pro and the 2017 Walter Payton Man of the Year, missed practice Wednesday and Thursday for what the Cardinals listed as “calf/illness” on their injury report, ESPN reported.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, atrial fibrillation is “an irregular heart rhythm that begins in your heart’s upper chambers.”
Watt’s announcement comes after the NFL is facing criticism for the league’s handling of Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa over the past week. Tagovailoa suffered a concussion Thursday night against Cincinnati, four days after he also hit his head on the turf during a Sept. 25 game against the Buffalo Bills.
The consultant involved in evaluating Tagovailoa during a concussion check against the Bills was fired by the NFL Players Association after the union found “multiple mistakes” in the process, the Miami Herald reported.
Photos: J.J. Watt through the years Here are some memorable photos of NFL star J.J. Watt through the years. (Mike Christy/Getty Images)
Photos: J.J. Watt through the years 2011: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell poses for a photo with J.J. Watt, the No. 11 overall pick by the Houston Texans, onstage during the 2011 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on April 28, 2011, in New York City. (Chris Trotman/Getty Images)
Photos: J.J. Watt through the years 2013: J.J. Watt of Houston Texans enters the field before the game against the New England Patriots at Reliant Stadium on December 1, 2013, in Houston. (Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
Photos: J.J. Watt through the years 2014: J.J. Watt of the Houston Texans celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Oakland Raiders in the first quarter on September 14, 2014, at O.co Coliseum in Oakland, California. (Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
Photos: J.J. Watt through the years 2015: J.J. Watt of the Houston Texans is introduced before playing against the New England Patriots in the first quarter on December 13, 2015, at NRG Stadium in Houston. (Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
Photos: J.J. Watt through the years 2016: J.J. Watt of the Houston Texans celebrates a play in the second quarter of their game against the Kansas City Chiefs at NRG Stadium on September 18, 2016, in Houston. (Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
Photos: J.J. Watt through the years 2017: Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt holds a box of relief supplies on his shoulder while handing them out to people impacted by Hurricane Harvey on September 3, 2017, in Houston. (Brett Coomer - Pool/Getty Images)
Photos: J.J. Watt through the years 2018: Kealia Ohai and NFL player J. J. Watt attend the NFL Honors at University of Minnesota on February 3, 2018, in Minneapolis. (Christopher Polk/Getty Images)
Photos: J.J. Watt through the years 2019: J.J. Watt of the Houston Texans gives the team a pep talk before a game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes Benz Superdome on September 9, 2019, in New Orleans. (Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
Photos: J.J. Watt through the years 2020: J.J. Watt of the Houston Texans celebrates a touchdown after intercepting a pass during the first half against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on November 26, 2020, in Detroit. (Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
Photos: J.J. Watt through the years 2021: Defensive end J.J. Watt of the Arizona Cardinals runs onto the field before the NFL game at State Farm Stadium on October 10, 2021, in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the 49ers 17-10. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Photos: J.J. Watt through the years 2022: J.J. Watt and Kealia Watt attend the 11th annual NFL Honors at YouTube Theater on February 10, 2022, in Inglewood, California. (Amy Sussman/Getty Images)
Photos: J.J. Watt through the years 2022: Defensive end J.J. Watt of the Arizona Cardinals walks on the sidelines during the second half of the NFL game against the Los Angeles Rams at State Farm Stadium on September 25, 2022, in Glendale, Arizona. The Rams defeated the Cardinals 20-12. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)