'Everybody's day comes at some point:' J.J. Watt gets in last practice of NFL career

The final day of Arizona Cardinals practice for the 2022 season arrived Friday, the last time players and coaches convened on the practice field at team headquarters.

It was also the last practice of defensive lineman J.J. Watt's standout NFL career. Watt has one game left before he walks away from football, as he announced last month.

"Walking out to the last practice today was definitely one where you don't really think about it at all until you're walking out there. And you're like, not going to walk out this door with this helmet in my hand ever again," Watt said. "The game will be emotional, and then And then I don't really think it'll be that bad until like, the first game of next season. That's when it'll really hit. Definitely won't be training camp, I can tell you that."

The team plays its season finale Sunday in Santa Clara, Calif., against the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers will surely be playing with purpose; they have a shot at the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs if they win and the Philadelphia Eagles lose their game against the New York Giants.

The Cardinals will be playing with a roster that doesn't even closely resemble what it was earlier in the season, nor what it was supposed to be before the many injuries took their toll. And as players have noted, it's the last time this particular group of teammates will ever suit up together.

For Watt, it's the last time he suits up in an NFL uniform, period. He addressed the team Friday.

"I told them after practice, like, everybody's day comes at some point. Nobody gets to play it forever," Watt said. "So it's just my day."

Watt is dealing with a groin injury, but it won't keep him off the field Sunday in front of his wife, son and parents. Heavy rain is in the forecast, something Watt wishes wouldn't happen because it doesn't help the injury feel better and takes away from footing for a good pass rush.

"It's fine. It's I've dealt with much worse things before," he said.

Watt spent 20 minutes reminiscing about his best moments on a football field in the NFL, talking about how much he looks forward to watching his brothers T.J. and Derek play (both are Pittsburgh Steelers) and what he's heard from fans after a career of sacks and hard work, plus making a big impact in the community of Houston where he played before he joined the Cardinals.

"It's overwhelming. I mean, it truly is. You expect some texts, calls, messages. But I've truly been overwhelmed and thankful for all the people and all the fans and everybody who has reached out to me because it's been special," Watt said. "And there's been memories brought back that I haven't thought about in a long time. And it's been really cool to relive some of those memories and reconnect with a lot of people."

Teammates are trying to win once more for guys like Watt and other longtime players nearing the end of their careers.

"You think about guys like J.J. Everybody's just trying to play hard and get the win," defensive lineman Michael Dogbe said.

Watt admitted it's been difficult to get through a 4-12 season, and one of his goals was pass along and impart as much wisdom and advice as he could to younger players in hopes the future Cardinals can turn things around next season.

"I really hope that they get where they want to be because I know what it's like to have fun in this league and to win and ... to have a frenzy around a great team, and it's a blast," Watt said, "and I want that for every single player in that locker room."

Kingsbury stays mum on future

Kingsbury was asked directly if he or his staff have received any assurance they will be retained. Kingsbury didn't say he has, but that he talks with owner Michael Bidwill daily.

"At this point, it's just about trying to win this game. So we haven't talked post-season, we haven't talked moves, anything like that. It's just about current issues and trying to win," Kingsbury said.

Does he expect to be the head coach next year?

"We'll focus on that after Sunday. But like I said, all our talk has been nothing but how we win this game," Kingsbury said.

Whatever happens, changes are afoot for the Cardinals for next season. They could start with a new general manager and/or a new head coach. Then new assistant coaches and departing free agents and new players via the draft and free agency.

"It's been a lot of ups and downs and a lot of adversity everybody's faced, and like I said all along, they've stuck together and it's a tight knit group," Kingsbury said. "And so just trying to enjoy each other these last 48 hours, and we try to play our best game."

No Conner, and maybe no Collins

The Cardinals were already talent- and depth-challenged due to the many season-ending injuries on the roster. This Sunday, they will be without top running back James Conner due to a shin injury suffered last week, and linebacker Zaven Collins with a calf problem.

Collins, one of the Cardinals' leading tacklers, is one of only three players to start every game this season.

Corey Clement and Keaontay Ingram will get the snaps at running back with Conner out. Ty'Son Williams is expected to be brought up from the practice squad to provide running back depth.

Quick outs

• Watt said the injury to Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin was one of the most "chilling, heartbreaking and terrifying things" he's ever seen in a football game. "It immediately puts your whole life into perspective. It puts everything into perspective. And, I mean, I obviously had a heart thing earlier this year," Watt said, in reference to his heart having to be shocked back into rhythm.

• Practice squad tight end Bernhard Seikovits has one more season left as a roster spot exemption via the NFL's International Player Pathway. He's got preseason game film and will get that opportunity with the Cardinals next season, hoping to make an impact in 2023 and see if that leads to a futures contract or a chance with another team.

• The Cardinals placed safety Chris Banjo and defensive lineman Jonathan Ledbetter on injured reserve Friday. That makes 19 players on injured reserve, the third highest total in the league.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona Cardinals' J.J. Watt hopes future is brighter after rough 2022