'Hard Knocks' rewind: Leadership of J.J. Watt shines through in latest episode

Veteran defensive lineman J.J. Watt gets a star turn in the latest episode "Hard Knocks'" featuring the Arizona Cardinals on HBO, which debuted on Wednesday night.

His impassioned speech at the end of the Cardinals' 24-15 loss to the Denver Broncos, about finishing the season strong and continuing to be professionals despite the team falling to 4-10, must have surely resonated with teammates.

During the week before the Denver game, Watt is seen standing in front of teammates asking them to open their hearts and cash-transfer apps to donate to a fund for support staff that help the Cardinals every day, from inside the team's Tempe facility to those who help them load and unload equipment on trucks.

It was gesture of generosity that showed the character that makes Watt one of the NFL's most respected players.

The episode starts with a poignant moment. Team owner Michael Bidwill addresses the team regarding the news that general manager Steve Keim had taken a health-related leave of absence, which came out last week.

Bidwill says he thinks Keim will be fine long term, and that team vice presidents Quentin Harris (player personnel) and Adrian Wilson (pro personnel) will finish out the season handling Keim's duties.

Then come scenes of quarterback Kyler Murray on crutches in the team parking lot, as he awaits his forthcoming knee surgery. Murray tore an ACL against the New England Patriots two games ago.

"It's the hardest thing he's ever gone through in his life," Cardinals co-passing game coordinator Cam Turner says.

The story of rookie tight end Trey McBride and his family is told as McBride gets ready to play in his native Colorado for the first time as a pro. Defensive lineman Leki Fotu makes what look to be tasty waffles from scratch in the offensive line meeting room.

In another scene, Watt runs sprints on the side during practice. Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph calls him a first ballot Pro Football Hall-of-Famer, because Watt still approaches his job as if he is a walk-on college player.

Highlights of Joseph from his Colorado playing days and on the sidelines as the Broncos' former head coach help tell the story of the coach, who invites others to walk with him in the darkness of the early morning in Tempe.

The in-game scenes from Denver's Empower Field at Mile High show backup quarterback Colt McCoy getting hit hard on a run, forcing him out of the game. He pounds the wall of the locker room angrily as he walks in.

The Cardinals lose other players to injuries during the game, though most came back in. At one point, wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins offers to play cornerback, with the Cardinals thin at that position.

Watt speaks to his teammates, telling them to take care of themselves and that they are also playing for jobs next season. He urges them to keep working hard.

"It's not time to pack it in," Watt says.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: J.J. Watt tries to rally Cardinals' in latest 'Hard Knocks' episode