Arizona Cardinals’ J.J. Watt records sack in standout return vs. Raiders
Sep 18, 2022, 1:49 PM | Updated: 9:50 pm
J.J. Watt #99 of the Arizona Cardinals sacks Derek Carr #4 of the Las Vegas Raiders during the first half at Allegiant Stadium on September 18, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
(Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Arizona Cardinals defensive end J.J. Watt was ruled active 90 minutes before Sunday’s game after missing Week 1 and did not take long to make his presence felt.
On the second play from scrimmage, Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr dropped back for the first time with Watt lined up on the right side.
Watt used an inside move on right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor and sacked Carr for a loss of eight.
Watt did you expect 🤷♂️@JJWatt x #BirdCityFootball pic.twitter.com/BJRawAbV3d
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) September 18, 2022
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The veteran missed Week 1 with a calf injury and suited up for his first regular season game since Week 7 of last year on Sunday. He missed 10 games with multiple injuries in his shoulder in 2021.
The sack was his second as a Cardinal and the 103rd in his career.
He celebrated by rolling imaginary dice on the field before getting greeted by Zach Allen.
Watt was the subject of multiple double teams throughout the game, but that did not stop him from batting a pass away on a third down in the fourth quarter.
The stop led to a punt, and Arizona took advantage with a touchdown drive to get within one score, 23-15.
The Cardinals came back to tie the game at 23 at the end of regulation, and they won the game in overtime on a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown by Byron Murphy Jr.
Despite being limited in practice Thursday and Friday, Watt brought juice to the Cardinals’ defensive line, a unit that needed a jolt.
