‘NOT A BIG FAN OF SNAKES’

Cardinals’ J.J. Watt Jokes He Caught Preseason-Ending COVID Case From Snake

The Wisconsin native, who admitted he knows very little about Arizona’s wildlife, will be forced to miss the rest of the preseason.

Arizona Cardinals star J.J. Watt tested positive for COVID-19 and will be unable to play the preseason’s remaining two games, his team said Sunday. The 33-year-old defensive end responded to the announcement with a joke, deadpanning over Twitter, “I think the snake brought it in the house…” It was a seeming reference to Watt’s social media activity last week, including a tweeted cry for help in handling “a baby rattlesnake in my bathroom.” The Pewaukee, Wisconsin, native later provided a video update, explaining that he’d called a professional for help. The expert had identified the animal as a “completely harmless” long-nosed snake and carried it out of Watt’s house with his bare hands, the athlete said. “I don’t know a lot about snakes, don’t know how to handle snakes, not a big fan of snakes,” Watt said in the video, later adding, “If you ever want to feel like a wimp, that’s the way to do it.”