Defensive end J.J. Watt needs shoulder surgery and the Arizona Cardinals are not expecting him to return to the field this season, ESPN reported Wednesday.
Watt was ruled out for the Cardinals’ Thursday night game against the Green Bay Packers on Wednesday, but the shoulder injury he sustained last week apparently was worse than previously thought.
Arizona listed Watt as a non-participant in practice all week due to a shoulder injury.
ESPN reported no date is scheduled for the 32-year-old to have surgery but labeled it a “likely season-ending” operation.
In his first season with the Cardinals after 10 years in Houston, Watt started the first seven games of the season and has recorded 16 tackles, 10 quarterback hits, one sack and one forced fumble.
Watt has 102 career sacks, and the five-time All-Pro was a three-time Defensive Player of the Year with the Texans.
He only played 30 defensive snaps in Week 7 against his former team on Sunday before popping up on Arizona’s estimated injury report the next day.
Suddenly, undefeated Arizona is drowning in injuries to key players.
Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, like Watt, was marked down as “DNP” all week with a hamstring injury. Hopkins, however, is listed as questionable for Thursday night.
On Green Bay’s side, tackle Dennis Kelly (back) was a limited participant in Wednesday’s practice but is doubtful for the game. Cornerback Kevin King (shoulder, back) and linebacker Preston Smith (oblique) are questionable.
The 7-0 Cardinals, the last undefeated team in the NFL, host the 6-1 Packers.
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