Vancouver Sun ePaper

Cardinals' Watt thankful to play after atrial fibrillation

STEVE REED

N.C. J.J. Watt and his wife Kealia have spent the past few months looking at ultrasounds of their unborn son and wishing for the best.

They never thought they'd be looking at pictures of Watt's own heart.

“It's been a week. I'm happy to be here. Happy to ...,” an emotional Watt said as his voice trailed off and he took a moment to gain control of his emotions.

The three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year helped the Arizona Cardinals beat Carolina 26-16 on Sunday, just three days after having his heart shocked into rhythm after going into atrial fibrillation.

“I talked to cardiologists and electrophysiologists from all over the country,” Watt said. “I was assured multiple times from multiple people that there was nothing else you could do. I could play like normal and something could happen the next day or never again in 20 years. So I was assured and I went back to practice on Friday and here we are.

“Obviously, it's been a very emotional week for me and my family — for my wife and for myself.”

Watt, 33, found out Sunday that a media outlet planned to break the story about his medical condition, which upset him.

To get ahead of the news, Watt tweeted just hours before kickoff that “I was just told somebody leaked some personal information about me and it's going to be reported on today. I went into A-Fib on Wednesday, had my heart shocked back into rhythm on Thursday and I'm playing today. That's it.”

After the game, Watt said he felt betrayed that someone shared his private medical information with the media.

“The only people that knew were my family and people in the building,” Watt said.

Watt added: “Injuries, I don't care. You leak injuries. That's football.

But this one was very emotional for me, so it was upsetting.”

Watt had a key fourth quarter deflection of Baker Mayfield's pass at the line of scrimmage that led to Dennis Gardeck's interception and helped the Cardinals take a 20-10 lead in the fourth quarter.

He finished with three tackles and two pass breakups.

Atrial fibrillation is defined as “an irregular and often very rapid heart rhythm that can lead to blood clots in the heart,” according to the Mayo Clinic. That can increase the risk of stroke, heart failure and other heart-related complications if not properly addressed.

SPORTS

en-ca

2022-10-04T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-10-04T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://vancouversun.pressreader.com/article/282029036117159

Postmedia