Cardinals DE J.J. Watt appreciates ‘business-like atmosphere’ Kliff Kingsbury instills

HOUSTON — When J.J. Watt takes the field on Sunday at State Farm Stadium, for the first time in his career, he will do so as an opponent of the Houston Texans.

Watt and the Arizona Cardinals will look to continue their blistering start to the 2021 campaign, as the franchise sits at 6-0 ahead of their Week 7 match against the Texans.

Since departing the Texans in early February, Watt went from a team in Houston on the cusp of a rebuild, to a ball club in Arizona that has a chance to represent the NFC at Super Bowl LVI in Los Angeles. But Watt’s experience with the Cardinals goes beyond the early success following an exasperated 4-12 season with the Texans a year prior.

“I think the thing that is really making this thing go is the business-like atmosphere,” Watt said when speaking to Houston reporters on Thursday. “Kliff [Kingsbury] sets a great culture where he handles what he handles and lets everyone else do their job. He trusts his coaches and players. Every day is work-like, and it’s been awesome.”

Watt said his decision to sign with the Cardinals came by the potential he saw in the organization following an 8-8 season in 2020. By joining a team that featured his former teammate in DeAndre Hopkins and rising star Kyler Murray, Watt saw an opportunity in Arizona that did not exist with the Texans.

With one sack on the season, Watt’s numbers do not justify his impact on the Cardinals’ success, but the 32-year-old defensive end has Arizona amid the top defensive teams in the league through the first six games.

Since joining the Cardinals, Watt has played more inside of the defensive line other than taking the helm at the end of the team’s d-line.

Watt said the familiarity with Cardinals’ defensive coordinator Vance Joseph is another reason why his transition from Houston to Arizona has been “easy and great.” Watt began his career playing under Joseph as the Texans’ defensive back coach during his first three seasons in the NFL from 2011-2013.

“Whatever the team asks of me — I do,” Watt said. “Whatever it takes to win. I think our team has that same mentality here and it is part of the reason why we are successful here. Nobody cares about who will get the credit. All we care about is getting the one number that matters, and that’s to win.”

Ahead of the reunion, the inevitable roster turnover the Texans ultimately underwent since his final game with the organization has made it just another contest for Watt. From the scouting report, Watt said he noticed that Houston’s rookie quarterback Davis Mills has a quick release from the pocket — which he deems a good challenge for the Cardinals’ defense.

Although he views the unrecognizable Texans as just another opponent, Watt will look to sustain his on-field dominance against his former team but will do so with a sincere devotion for the City of Houston and its fans.

“I have a massive amount of love and respect for the city of Houston and their fans,” Watt said. “That’s one of the toughest parts for me, just knowing how unbelievable that fan base and the city is when everything is going great.”

“When at its peak, it is a beautiful thing, and I wish that for the city. I hope one day it can happen again.”