Cardinals' Watt designated to return from IR

The Arizona Cardinals designated J.J. Watt to return from injured reserve Friday, paving a path for the defensive end to come back in the playoffs, the team announced.

Watt has been sidelined since Week 7 after sustaining a shoulder injury against his former team, the Houston Texans. The 32-year-old underwent what was thought to be season-ending surgery.

The designation to return means Arizona has up to 21 days to reinstate Watt to the active roster. He's hoping to play in the first week of the postseason, reports ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

Watt averaged over two quarterback pressures per game and recorded five tackles for loss and a sack when he went down in October. He's tied for 52nd on the NFL's all-time sack list with 102 for his career.

The three-time Defensive Player of the Year made one previous improbable playoff return, coming back from a torn pectoral to rejoin the Texans for the postseason in 2019.