We have yet to see J.J. Watt in a training camp practice -- he remains on the PUP list with a hamstring issue -- but he also said in an interview with Dave Pasch in Saturday's pregame show that he will "absolutely" be ready for the regular season opener in Tennessee Sept. 12.
The Cards will be getting -- according to the latest NFL Top 100 list -- a man who is ranked No. 66 in the whole league.
Watt had five sacks and an interception last season for the Texans but was still showing to be a force on the defensive line. Obviously, the players around the league -- who are the ones voting in this list -- still believe he can be a game-changer.
Kliff Kingsbury, coincidentally, casted some doubt that Watt could get any camp or preseason work while the Cardinals get him ready for the games that count.
"We know what he can do, whether he takes a snap in (camp) practice or preseason games," Kingsbury said. "We'll get him to Week 1, allow him to practice that week if that's what it takes, and go from there."
Last season the Cardinals had five players in the top 100: DeAndre Hopkins (8), Chandler Jones (15), Larry Fitzgerald (69), Kyler Murray (90) and Budda Baker (97). Jones' injury might cost him a spot this year, and it seems that Fitz will not make the list for the first time after being voted on each of the first 10 years of its existence.
Hopkins would seem a lock for the top 40 and you'd hope both Murray and Baker would find themselves there. That part of the list is still TBA.
In the meantime, they have Watt, who even after all this time is highly regarded by his peers. The Cardinals are hoping that top-100 version makes an impact this season.
