NFL Notes: J.J. Watt, Cowboys, Eagles, Rams & Vikings

J.J. Watt

Texans DE J.J. Watt mentioned in an article for The Players Tribune that he had a serious staph infection that could have cost him his leg had it not been treated in time.

“One Friday night last season, I noticed some weird bumps on my knee,” Watt writes. “I thought it was a rash, so I went and asked our trainer if he had any cream. He looked at my knee and said, ‘That looks really bad. We have to get you to the hospital right now.

“I could see in his face that he was serious and actually a bit panicked,” Watt explains. “As it turned out, he saved me in a big way. At the hospital, they immediately put me on three hours of the strongest antibiotic IVs. I went straight from the hospital to the team plane and we flew to Jacksonville. Once we landed, there were two more hours of antibiotics that night and two more the next morning before the game. The medicine had completely drained me, but I played — and we won.”

Cowboys

• Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said that their decision to activate rookie LB Jaylon Smith is because they “wanted to keep his eligibility alive” for this season. (Drew Davison)
• Jones also mentioned that they have “to find a place” for RB Darren McFadden, who is also being activated from the non-football injury list. (Charean Williams)
• Jones said he expects CB Morris Claiborne (groin) to play again before the end of the regular season. (David Helman)

Eagles

Field Yates of ESPN has the totals for the three contract extensions handed out by the Eagles last week.

• S Chris Maragos: three years, $6M
• P Donnie Jones: three years, $5.5M
• LS Jon Dorenbos: three years, $3.395M

Rams

Rams HC Jeff Fisher says he hasn’t considered making a change at offensive coordinator, despite the team’s obvious struggles this season.

“Not given it any consideration,” Fisher said, via the Los Angeles Times. “I did that last year. I have confidence in Rob and the offense has confidence in Rob. And the offense right now knows they’re not doing what they should be doing.”

Vikings

• Ben Goessling of ESPN writes that Vikings WR/KR Cordarrelle Patterson‘s improvement this season has been so striking that it’s possible Minnesota could consider re-signing him after the season.
• The Vikings declined Patterson‘s fifth-year option, which came as no surprise, considering how poorly he had played since entering the NFL.
• Patterson is clearly one of the best kick returners in the league, but Goessling believes it’s possible there could be a market for Patterson beyond what he brings to the table as just a returner.