JJ Watt Calls Out 'Ridiculous' Buzz Around NFL Training Camp 'Stats'

Former NFL star and current CBS analyst J.J. Watt is unimpressed with the hype surrounding what he called "insane and ridiculous" stats emerging this week from scrimmages taking place during NFL training camps.

Watt pointed out in a post on X that observers "have no idea what the purpose of that period is, what the goals are, what the context is" for the stats being shared from practices.

Watt continued to describe some of the circumstances that could be taking place during training camp practices:

"It could be a strictly 3rd & Long blitz period where every play is skewed to the defenses advantage. Coaches could be asking the QB to focus specifically on one route concept. DLine may be focusing only on bull rushes one day or just speed rushes for one period.

"More importantly, practice is for practicing. You’re supposed to fail. You’re supposed to try new things, see what works and what doesn’t work, etc. If you only do what works, you’ll never grow, adapt, change."

Watt isn't the only figure around the NFL that has pushed back against the concept of tracking training camp stats this summer.

When Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon asked by a reporter at the 14:00 mark of his Thursday press conference if it made sense for analysts to keep track of player stats during camp, Gannon shook his head and answered, "No, that'd be a waste of your time."

Watt and Gannon's comments come amid a flurry of viral reactions to training camp reports, including negativity surrounding errors like New York Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart throwing a pick-six during an 11-on-11 drill and early hype around the Atlanta Falcons' Michael Penix Jr. and Kyle Pitts connecting in practice on Thursday.

Some of those reports involve even more specific stats, like the buzz on Thursday over Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers reportedly recording a lower passing percentage during his reps with the first-team offense than Mason Rudolph did with the Steelers' second team.

The stats recorded during training camp may ultimately be less meaningful to teams than whether the players emerge from these summer sessions healthy.

One player whose health was in question early in training camp was New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields, who was carted off the practice field on Thursday. The Jets announced later that afternoon that Fields had avoided serious injury and would be day-to-day with a dislocated toe.