Arizona pass rusher J.J. Watt was “very limited” in his return to practice Thursday, Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury said.
Watt, 32, was placed on injured reserve on Nov. 6 following surgery to repair a torn labrum, torn rotator cuff and torn bicep. He sustained the injuries during Arizona’s Week 7 win against the Houston Texans.
“We wanted to get him back out doing some functional football exercises, and that was the step today,” Kingsbury said.
Watt and the team are hopeful he’ll be ready to play in Monday night’s wild-card game at the Los Angeles Rams.
However, Watt was non-committal about playing when talking to reporters on Wednesday, saying, “We’ll make that decision as Monday comes closer.”
He started the first seven games this season and recorded 16 tackles, 10 quarterback hits, one sack and one forced fumble.
The three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year signed a two-year, $31 million deal with the Cardinals in March after playing his first 10 seasons with Houston.
Cardinals running backs Chase Edmonds (ribs, toe) and James Conner (ribs) have the chance to be on the field together for the first time since Week 15.
Edmonds (592 yards, two touchdowns) did not play last week against the Seattle Seahawks but told reporters Thursday he was “feeling good to go.” Conner (752 yards, 15 TDs) left last week’s game in the fourth quarter and did not practice Thursday. He will be a game-time decision against the Rams.
