Cardinals’ Week 1 defensive, ST snap counts, observations vs. Bills

A look at how the defensive and special teams playing time was divided up on Sunday against the Bills.

In the Arizona Cardinals’ 34-28 loss to the Buffalo Bills, there 21 players participated in at least one of the 62 defensive snaps and 34 that played at least one of the 27 special-teams snaps.

The first number after each name is snaps and the second is the percentage. Players in bold were starters.

Defensive linemen

  • Justin Jones 43/69, Bilal Nichols 27/44, Dante Stills 25/40, Roy Lopez 23/37, L.J. Collier 22/35, Khyiris Tonga 16/26
  • Injured reserve: Darius Robinson (eligible to return)

There were only four tackles from the group with Jones leading with two (one solo). He recovered the fumble forced by a Lopez first-quarter sack and he had one tackle for loss plus a quarterback hit. Tonga had one solo tackle. Stills and Nichols did not make the stat list.

Linebackers

  • ILB Kyzir White 62/100, OLB Zaven Collins 43/69, OLB Dennis Gardeck 40/65, ILB Mack Wilson Sr. 39/63, OLB Xavier Thomas 18/29, OLB Victor Dimukeje 13/21, ILB Owen Pappoe 12/19, ILB Krys Barnes 10/16
  • Inactive: OLB Jesse Luketa
  • Injured reserve: BJ Ojulari

White led the team with 11 tackles (five solo) and had one tackle for loss and a quarterback hit. Wilson was only two behind with nine tackles, but led the team with eight solo stops. He had a tackle for loss and pass defensed. Collins also had nine tackles (five solo) and a tackle for loss, but lost a sack on a questionable roughing-the-passer penalty that occurred moments before he was held. Pappoe had four tackles (one solo) in his 12 snaps and nearly had a sack of Bills quarterback Josh Allen. Thomas rarely got pressure on Allen in his 18 snaps.

Defensive backs

  • S Budda Baker 62/100, S Jalen Thompson 62/100, CB Sean Murphy-Bunting 62/100, CB Star Thomas V 51/82, CB Garrett Williams 38/61, CB Max Melton 11/18, CB Kei’Trel Clark 4/6
  • Did not play: S Dadrion (Rabbit) Taylor-Demerson, S Joey Blount (both played only on special teams)
  • Inactive: S Darren Hall
  • Injured reserve: CB Elijah Jones (eligible to return)

Baker had 10 tackles (four solo) with one for loss. Thompson had six tackles (four solo) and a pass defensed. Murphy-Bunting had five tackles (two solo), but had a penalty for pass interference (only six yards) and holding. Williams and Thomas had three solo tackles, while Clark had two. Melton missed a tackle by hitting high rather than wrapping up. He was in concussion protocol after the game.

Special teams

LB Krys Barnes 23/85, LB Owen Pappoe 23/85, S Dadrion (Rabbit) Taylor-Demerson 21/78, WR Zach Pascal 17/63, LB Victor Dimukeje 17/63, CB Max Melton 17/63, S Joey Blount 17/63, KR DeeJay Dallas 16/59, TE Tip Reiman 11/41, K Matt Prater 10/37, TE Elijah Higgins 10/37, RB Emari Demercado 8/30, LB Dennis Gardeck 8/30, CB Kei’Trel Clark 8/30, P Blake Gillikin 6/22, LS Aaron Brewer 6/22, DL Justin Jones 6/22, DL Bilal Nichols 6/22, DL Dante Stills 6/22, DL Roy Lopez 6/22, LB Xavier Thomas 6/22, S Budda Baker 6/22, CB Sean Murphy-Bunting 6/22, CB Garrett Williams 5/19, T Paris Johnson Jr. 4/15, G Evan Brown 4/15, C Hjalte Froholdt 4/15, T Kelvin Beachum 4/15, G Isaiah Adams 4/15, C/G Trystan Colon 4/15, G Will Hernandez 3/11, RS Greg Dortch 3/11, T Jonah Williams 1/4, S Jalen Thompson 1/4

One of Prater’s kickoffs landed short of the landing zone, placing the ball on the 40-yard line. That was the only Cardinals penalty of the game on special teams. Melton was the only player credited with tackles. He had two, plus one assist.

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