Oct. 3, 2022 -- J.J. Watt, a defensive end for the Arizona Cardinals, says he went into atrial fibrillation last week and had to have his heart “shocked back into rhythm.” 

Nevertheless, he played against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday – just three days after the incident.

Watt revealed his medical situation on Twitter Sunday morning.

“I was just told somebody leaked some personal information about me and it’s going to be reported on today,” he tweeted Sunday. “I went into A-Fib on Wednesday, had my heart shocked back into rhythm on Thursday and I’m playing today. That’s it.”

In a post-game interview , the 33-year-old Watt said he considered not playing on Sunday.

“I talked to cardiologists and electrophysiologists from all over the country,” he said. “I was assured multiple times from multiple people that there was nothing else you could do. I could play like normal and something could happen the next day or never again in 20 years. So I was assured and I went back to practice on Friday and here we are.”

Watt said his pregnant wife, Lealia Ohai, was by his side as he was administered anesthesia for the procedure. 

“Obviously, it’s been a very emotional week for my family, for my wife, for myself,” Watt said. 

Atrial fibrillation, also called AFib, is an irregular, fluttery heart rhythm that can lead to blood clots in the heart. There are several kinds of AFib and it’s not clear which kind Watt has or whether he’ll play next week.

YouTube: “LIVE: Postgame Press Conference Week 4 vs. Panthers,” Arizona Cardinals

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