The Arizona Cardinals picked up a surprising 28-16 win in Week 3 over the visiting Dallas Cowboys, a team that had thoroughly dominated its competition through two weeks.
There were strong performances from a few players like running back James Conner, kicker Matt Prater, linebacker Kyzir White and even quarterback Josh Dobbs.
However, there was a secret superstar on the Cardinals in Week 3. Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar put together Week 3’s team of underrated “secret superstars” of the week. It was center Hjalte Froholdt.
Froholdt was selected by the New England Patriots in the fourth round of the 2019 draft out of Arkansas, and the Cardinals are his third NFL team — he was the Cleveland Browns’ rotational center and right guard in 2022, and signed a vet minimum deal in Arizona. So far, it’s proven to be a massive bargain, as Froholdt is playing with great mobility, balance, and pure power. Against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, Froholdt allowed no pressures of any kind on all 32 of Josh Dobbs’ dropbacks, and that’s against a Dallas defense that had terrorized quarterbacks through the first two weeks of the 2023 season. That 28-16 upset in favor of the Cardinals speaks to the feisty demeanor of Jonathan Gannon’s team, and don’t underestimate Froholdt’s part in that particular surprise.
Block of the year candidate from Cardinals C Hjalte Froholdt with this GORGEOUS 'slingshot' technique on the backer to spring a huge run. pic.twitter.com/jdTm98Ctn2
— Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) September 25, 2023
Froholdt has been a solid pickup this year. He has improved each week.
It is the second straight week a Cardinals lineman makes this list. Tackle D.J. Humphries was a secret superstar in Week 2.
Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.
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