Chiefs vs. Cardinals: J.J. Watt is day-to-day for Arizona

The Arizona Cardinals are dealing with a day-to-day injury for J.J. Watt as they prepare for the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 1.

The Arizona Cardinals were already dealing with a ton of injuries heading into their Week 1 matchup against the visiting Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday afternoon, but one major player of note to keep an eye on is star defensive end J.J. Watt.

According to NFL reporter Ian Rapoport, Watt is listed as day-to-day as the first wave of injury designations came in from Kliff Kingsbury’s team as he deals with a calf injury.

Watt is no stranger to an injury list, and that’s been increasingly true as he gets older. The Cardinals have taken a chance by depending on Watt for another year, and while the potential ceiling there is truly great, it’s also true that he’s missed at least a half-season in four of the last six years.

Last year, Watt had 16 tackles, 16 pressures, and a single sack for the Cardinals in 7 starts, his first season in the desert. The upside for the Cards is that he played all 16 games as recently as 2020, but it appears to be the anomaly at this stage. The Cardinals have Zach Allen on the other side opposite Watt with perhaps Michael Dogbe filling in if Watt cannot go. Hopefully, for Arizona, the day-to-day designation offers hope that the calf issue isn’t that serious.

Watt is a three-time Defensive Player of the Year and five-time Pro Bowler who seems destined to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame when all is said and done.