Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman J.J. Watt reacted emotionally following his team’s win on Sunday against the Carolina Panthers when he discussed the medical complications he had to battle during the week.
Watt revealed in a tweet before the game that he had his heart shocked back into rhythm last week after being evaluated by a doctor.
“I was just told somebody leaked some personal information about me and it’s going to be reported on today,” he wrote on Twitter. “I went into A-Fib on Wednesday, had my heart shocked back into rhythm on Thursday and I’m playing today. That’s it.”
Following his team’s 26-16 win on Sunday, Watt said before deciding that he would suit up and play, he “talked to cardiologists and electrophysiologists from all over the country.”
“I was assured multiple times from multiple people that there’s nothing else you could do,” Watt said. “I’m gonna go back and play like normal. So it could happen again next day, it could happen never again in 20 years. So I was assured, multiple times, so I went back to practice Friday, practiced and here we are. Obviously it’s been a very emotional week for my family, for my wife, for myself. I’m very happy to get a win today. I mean, I’ve learned, obviously, I’ve had a lot of emotions, but I’ve learned to appreciate the little things even more. And so it’s nice to have a win today.”
Watt said it was especially difficult to look at an ultrasound of his heart given that he and his wife have recently looked at an ultrasound of his unborn baby boy.
“It’s been a week but happy to be here… It’s been tough, you know?” Watt continued. “It was just weird. Just weird. I have a baby on the way.”
Watt said that he was very thankful to be out there with his team for their win and that part of the reason that he was so upset that the news of his heart condition leaked was because he felt like it took away from his teammates.
“My wife was by my side the whole time. So that helps a lot,” Watt added. “And then just I didn’t know what else to do. I’ve been playing this game my whole life. They said I was fine. So once my heart was reset, they said, you’re fine if you feel comfortable. I mean, I’d probably be more uncomfortable sitting on my couch at home. This is just, this is what I know. Right or wrong, maybe that’s messed up. But if I was sitting at home watching the boys play and knowing that they said I was perfectly fine to play, I would have felt weird. So I just did what I know.”
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