Watt returns to play in the first round of the playoffs. The Cardinals did not elevate CB Bashaud Breeland.
It is official. Defensive lineman J.J. Watt will return from his shoulder injury Monday night in the Arizona Cardinals’ first-round playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams.
The Cardinals announced his activation from injured reserve, setting him up to play for the first time since he tore basically everything in his shoulder in Week 7. He was expected to miss four to six months but is back in under three months.
He wasn’t the only player activated from injured reserve.
The Cardinals also activated linebacker and special teams ace Zeke Turner. Turner had been out since Week 5 with a shoulder injury.
The Cardinals also elevated cornerback Kevin Peterson and defensive tackle Zach Kerr from the practice squad as standard elevations.
Peterson will get playing time at cornerback with Byron Murphy and Marco Wilson.
Kerr’s elevation gives the Cardinals another defensive lineman. Unless one is made inactive, they will have Watt, Kerr, Zach Allen, Jordan Phillips, Corey Peters, Leki Fotu and Rashard Lawrence all available Monday night.
They did not elevate veteran cornerback Bashaud Breeland.
What might the legendary former Cardinals receiver say during the Cardinals’ playoff game against the Rams?
The Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Rams face one another in the first round of the NFL playoffs. The winner will advance to the divisional round and face the defending champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The game will air on ABC and ESPN with the regular Monday night broadcasting crew, but Peyton Manning and Eli Manning will once again have their alternate broadcast on ESPN2, known as the Manningcast.
When the Cardinals and Rams faced one another in Week 14 on Monday night, there was no Manningcast. One of the Mannings’ guests will be of particular interest to Cardinals fans.
Legendary Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald will be the first guest of the broadcast.
So if Cardinals fans want a break from the traditional game commentary from Steve Levy, Brian Griese and Louis Riddick, make sure to tune in to the Manningcast. You will hear the Mannings’ commentary, which is always insightful because of their experience of playing quarterback at a high level in the NFL. Plus, it will be fun to see what they get Fitzgerald to say.
The Cardinals beat the Rams 37-20 in Week 4. If they can do these things they did in that game, they can advance in the playoffs with a win.
The Arizona Cardinals will face the Los Angeles Rams for the third time this season Monday night. This time, it is in the playoffs and the winner moves on to the divisional round to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, while the loser’s season ends disappointingly.
The Cardinals won the first matchup in Week 4 and lost the second one in Week 14.
If they wish to advance, they will need to do a few things from their first game against the Rams, a 37-20 win, that they didn’t in Week 14 when the Rams beat them 30-23.
The Cardinals and Rams play the final playoff game of the long weekend. Here is the info you need to watch, stream or listen to it.
The Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Rams play the final game of the extended wild-card weekend Monday night. It is the Cardinals’ first postseason game in six seasons. It is the third time the two teams face one another this season.
The Cardinals beat the Rams on the road in Week 4 37-20 and the Rams returned the favor in Week 14 with a 30-23 win in Arizona.
If you are planning on watching or listening to the game, the information you need is below.
When and where
Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams, Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET (6:15 p.m. Arizona time), SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California
TV, streaming, broadcasting team
The game is nationally televised on ESPN and on ABC. Steve Levy, Louis Riddick and Brian Griese will call the game and Lisa Salters will report from the sideline.
You can also stream the game live on FuboTV. Try it free.
Radio info
There is a national radio broadcast for the game. It will air on Westwood One. Kevin Kugler and former Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner will call the game with Ross Tucker reporting from the sideline.
The Cardinals radio broadcast in English is on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM. Dave Pasch and Ron Wolfley will call the game with Paul Calvisi reporting from the sideline.
The Spanish broadcast for the Cardinals airs on KQMR 100.3 FM. Luis Hernandez and Rolando Cantu will call the game.
The Rams’ radio broadcast will air on ESPNLA 710 AM and on 93.1 JACK FM. J.B Long will do play-by-play with Maurice Jones-Drew in the booth. D’Marco Farr will report from the sideline.
Their Spanish broadcast is on Tu Liga Radio, 1330 AM with Troy Santiago doing play-by-play and Ricardo Lopez as the analyst.
Ian Rapoport says the Cardinals will activate Watt and he will play if there are no setbacks before Monday afternoon.
The Arizona Cardinals could have one of the biggest comeback stories of the playoffs when they take on the Los Angeles Rams Monday night. Defensive lineman J.J. Watt, who appeared to have suffered a season-ending shoulder injury, is close to being back on the field less than three months after surgery that was supposed to have a recovery time of four to six months.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Watt practiced all week and had no setbacks. He traveled with the team to Los Angeles. “I am told if nothing else occurs between now and then, he is expected to be activated, is expected to play,” he said.
The Cardinals are taking a more cautious public approach.
Head coach Kliff Kingsbury said the team would take the decision “down to the wire” whether to activate him or not.
With their game on Monday night, they have until the afternoon to make roster moves to elevate players from the practice squad and activate them from injured reserve.
Kingsbury said they want to be careful.
“He’s done everything humanly possible to put himself in this position and I know if he has it his way, he’ll be out there, but we’ve got to be smart do the right thing and make sure it’s right for all parties involved,” he told reporters Saturday.
He said they will see where Watt is at with his shoulder and comfort level on Monday.
Kingsbury did not that having him on the field in practice has been a big boost.
“It’s been great having him out there. It’s another thing,” he said.
Watt adds a level of juice when he is with the guys and, assuming he plays, he adds a level of intensity on the field.
In the first matchup with the Rams this season, Watt had two hits on Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford.
If he plays, he will likely have a moderately limited role, but the addition of him and Jordan Phillips to the defensive line, combined with the good play of Zach Allen over the last month and a half, and the Cardinals will be in good shape at the point of attack.
The Rams will be without three starters who played in Week 14. The Cardinals could get three defensive starters back this week.
The Arizona Cardinals and the Los Angeles Rams meet in the first round of the playoffs on Monday night. It is the third time they face one another.
They split both of those games.
It should be a fun game.
But the health of both teams could be a factor in outcome.
Both teams have had to deal with losses on defense, but the Cardinals have the advantage in that their defense is getting healthy, while the Rams have suffered recent losses.
The Rams’ recent defensive losses
Los Angeles will play the Cardinals without three defensive starters who were on the field when they last met in Week 14.
Linebacker Ernest Jones has been on injured reserve for two weeks. He has a high ankle sprain and must miss at least one more week, which means the Rams will be without one of their starting linebackers.
They will be missing both their starting safeties.
Jordan Fuller suffered an ankle injury in Week 18. He was placed on injured reserve. Taylor Rapp suffered a concussion and did not practice all week. He did not clear protocols and was ruled out against the Cardinals. If you recall, Rapp picked off Kyler Murray in both games the two teams played in 2019.
The Cardinals’ coming reinforcements
Defensive lineman Jordan Phillips appears set to return. He missed the final three games of the regular season with a knee injury. He is officially questionable for the game but was able to participate fully in practice on Saturday. He had a sack in each of the last two games he played, including in Week 14 against the Rams.
J.J. Watt could return as well. He did not have any setbacks in his week of practice and is trending towards playing. If he is able to, it means the Cardinals will have their two best interior pass rushers joining Zach Allen.
Cornerbacks Marco Wilson and Kevin Peterson will both be in the lineup.
Wilson missed the last two games with a shoulder injury. Peterson exited the game last week with a concussion and did not return. They will be able to roll with a quartet of players at cornerback in Wilson, Peterson, Byron Murphy and some Antonio Hamilton mixed in.
When the Cardinals beat the Rams in Week 4, they did not sack Matthew Stafford but they did get a lot of pressure on him, which led to erratic throws.
In Week 14, he was nearly perfect.
This week, the defense should be geared up and ready to deal with whatever the Rams have to offer.
The Cardinals will have a number of game-day decisions about player availability on Monday.
The Arizona Cardinals wrapped up their week of practice preparing for the first round of the playoffs on the road against the Los Angeles Rams. With the release of their final injury report of the week, they did not have to rule any play out.
However, there are a number of players listed as questionable and the decision about whether they play or not will happen Monday afternoon in pre-game warmups.
Have a look at the latest injury report for the Rams.
The Los Angeles Rams did not practice on Thursday but did not Friday and released their second injury report of the week. After Thursday’s was an estimation of participation, Friday’s report was the actual report of participation.
Check out the Cardinals’ second injury report of the week.
The Arizona Cardinals were back at practice on Friday to get ready for their first-round playoff game on the road against the Los Angeles Rams. With their second injury report of the week, there were new additions and some improvements.
