GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Arizona Cardinals had their first practice of 2021 training camp on Wednesday.
The team, however, was without one of its newest offseason additions in defensive lineman J.J. Watt after he suffered a hamstring injury following Tuesday’s run/conditioning test.
“We obviously did the conditioning test yesterday, completed the conditioning test and then had a little soreness in my hamstring, so we’re just being very smart about it,” Watt said after practice on Wednesday.
“Obviously being in the league 10 years and the biggest thing that I know is it’s all about Week 1. It’s all about being ready for Sept. 12 and taking a smart, smooth approach to that date.”
Watt added that he won’t be practicing on Thursday either and the team placed him on the active PUP list, joining pass-rusher Dennis Gardeck.
“I think that’s part of the maturity process too is understanding what is the most important thing,” he said. “Early on, I didn’t realize that [Week 1] was the most important thing.
“I thought that every single rep of every single day I was trying to kill people. Sometimes those are my own teammates that I’m trying to kill. So I have to reel it back a little bit and that’s what comes with maturity.”
After spending the first 10 years of his career with the Houston Texans, the five-time All-Pro and three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year reiterated that all he cares about is being able to suit up for the Cardinals in Week 1 on the road against the Tennessee Titans.
“We’re going to take it very slow and be very smart about it,” Watt said.
“It’s a hamstring obviously so you want to be very smart, take your time and like I said, Sept. 12 is the plan.”