Kingsbury confirms Watt's return to Cardinals' Thursday practice before playoffs

Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury has confirmed ESPN's Tuesday report from Jeremy Fowler that J.J. Watt's imminent return to a full team practice could be as early as Thursday.

That will be their first practice this week to prepare for their Monday night Wild Card playoff round game against NFC West champion and rival Los Angeles Rams (12-5).

"It starts with the player feeling like he can do it," Kingsbury told the media on Wednesday. "The doctors have to clear him, trainers have to clear him, and he’s basically done everything humanly possibly he could do in the training room, in the weight room, and so the next step is to get him on the practice field and see what he can do.

"I don’t think anybody knows exactly what that is, but we get him out there Thursday and start moving around and see where he’s at."

The Cardinals' star defensive end Watt hasn't been in a practice since Oct. 22 before he injured his shoulder in their last home win over the Houston Texans two days later.

Watt has been frequently seen during open media portions at their practices doing individual drills, and worked with offensive linemen since his injury.

Watt was designated to return from the Reserve/Injured list last Friday after he was placed on it Nov. 6. He missed Arizona's final 11 regular season games, including their home loss to Seattle Seahawks last Sunday, after he was speculated to have a season-ending shoulder surgery on Nov. 3.

"As soon as I went down and they told me four to six months after November 3rd, it was like ... the first thing I did was count the weeks," Watt said. "I wanted to see where do those weeks lead me. Where does four to six months lead me, and how the hell can I get back faster than that to get back out there with the guys? And then you just go to work ...

"If it works, it works. If it doesn't, it doesn't. But I knew at that moment that you're gonna do everything you possible can because those guys in there will do everything they possibly can do for me."

Watt told reporters on Monday he's "excited" for his return to practice, but "won't speak on Monday right now" regarding if he'll play against the Rams. He and the Cardinals will decide closer toward the game, and added he won't play if he’ll end up as a detriment to the team.

Red zone woes without Hopkins

The Cardinals wide receiver room has dealt with some scoring issues since their best playmaker DeAndre Hopkins missed most of the regular season's second half.

Hopkins missed three consecutive games in November from his hamstring injury. He returned for their win against Chicago on Dec. 5, then suffered his knee injury in Arizona's home loss to the Rams five days prior, had season-ending surgery and was placed on the IR Dec. 18.

Hopkins helped Arizona become one of the NFL's best passing offenses, ranked in the top 10 for red zone scoring percentage when they initially went 7-0, and stayed there through mid-December.

Since Hopkins left the Rams-Cardinals game early, Arizona has lost four out of five games, has gone six-of-16 in the red zone, declined to 14th in red zone scoring percentage at 60 percent, tied with the Rams, per Pro Football Reference.

However, Kingsbury believes his WRs Christian Kirk, A.J. Green, backups Antoine Wesley and Greg Dortch have stepped up well replacing for Hopkins and rookie speedster Rondale Moore (ankle), who missed their past three games since their loss to Detroit Lions on Dec. 19.

Kirk and Kingsbury credited their opponents' different defensive schemes since they've missed Hopkins, including Seattle's shell defenses which allowed just over eight yards per catch.

“We think we have a capable group. There’s no doubt. Guys can make plays. This past week, way too many negative plays and got us off schedule," Kingsbury said about their loss to Seattle. "I think we were third-and-10-plus eight times, which is really hard to overcome.

"We can’t hurt ourselves, but we have a good crew and they’ve done a lot of good things this year. You can’t replace a guy like Hop, particularly in the red zone. That shows up, his production and the way teams have to play you, but I really like the group we have."

Kirk said the Cardinals are still evaluating their passing game. He added Kyler Murray and their receivers need to stop somewhat pressing “to try and make it back in one play," and need to rely on methodical drives.

“We’ve been seeing a bunch of different things, especially with Hop being out," Kirk said. "Teams take a different approach and, number one, it starts with just kind of getting zone in the back end and making sure they’re not allowing us for Kyler to scramble and extend plays, and hit guys on the run in the end zone, and stopping the run. We’ll be prepared for all the looks we think the Rams are gonna give us and try to be better in that area."

Watt proud of brother tying NFL sacks record

Watt said he's "extremely proud" to have witnessed his younger brother and Pittsburgh Steelers top pass rusher T.J. Watt tied the league's single-season sacks record.

T.J. reached the 22.5-sack milestone during the second quarter of Pittsburgh's playoff-clinching 16-13 overtime victory over the Baltimore Ravens last Sunday.

New York Giants Hall of Famer Michael Strahan set the record in 2001.

"There are some incredible players in this league, there are some incredible defenders in this league, but you can’t convince me that there is any other defender you’d rather have out there with the game on the line than No. 90 rushing the passer trying to get you a sack to try and win the game," Watt said.

Injury updates on Cardinals RBs, Rams

Kingsbury also said the Cardinals' three running backs, including their two starters James Conner (ribs/heel), Chase Edmonds (ribs/toe), and backup Jonathan Ward (knee) are day-to-day. They'll be tested at Thursday's practice as well.

Conner played against Seattle after being a game-time decision from his lingering heel injury, but left early in the fourth quarter after he hurt his ribs. Ward was sidelined after he injured his knee that same quarter. Edmonds didn't play versus Seattle.

On Wednesday, the Rams put safety Jordan Fuller on the IR.

Roster moves

Cardinals re-signed defensive lineman Zach Kerr to their practice squad on Wednesday, two days after they cut him from their active roster. They also released DL Matt Dickerson from the practice squad Wednesday.

Rams signed retired safety Eric Weddle to replace Fuller, and signed defensive back Jake Gervase from their practice squad

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Kliff Kingsbury confirms Watt's return to Cardinals' Thursday practice