Cardinals’ Week 3 offensive snap counts, observations vs. Lions

A look at how the Cardinals split up their offensive snaps against the Lions.

In the Arizona Cardinals’ 20-13 loss to the Detroit Lions, 18 players participated in at least one of the 59 offensive snaps.

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

Arizona Cardinals Week 3 offensive snap counts

Quarterbacks

Kyler Murray 59/100

Did not play: Clayton Tune

What a difference a week makes. After compiling a 158.3 passer rating (170.6 according to BAPR/Balzer Adjusted Passer Rating) against the Rams and being 5-for-5 for 79 yards and a touchdown on third down, Murray came back to earth. His passer rating was 76.5 and he had his first interception of the season on a jump ball that was thrown short of Marvin Harrison Jr.

On third down, where the Cardinals were 1-for-9 in the game, Murray completed 3-of-7 passes for 21 yards and 13 came on a late-game, 13-yard pass to Greg Dortch on third-and-17. In the fourth quarter, with the ground game grounded, there were no running plays and he was 11-for-17 for 119 yards.

Murray rushed five times for 45 yards with a 21-yard scamper, but in the second half he had only eight yards on two carries and came up short on a crucial fourth-and-1.

Running backs

James Conner 44/75, Emari Demercado 12/20, Trey Benson 2/3

Did not play: DeeJay Dallas (played only on special teams)

There wasn’t much room for the runners and that affected the overall offense. Conner was 9-for-17 with a long of seven, while Benson was 2-8 with a long of six and Demercado was 2-7, also with a long of six. The two runs for Benson were his only snaps in the game.

In the passing game, Murray rarely looked for the backs with Conner catching his one target for eight yards.

Wide receivers

Marvin Harrison Jr. 52/88, Michael Wilson 53/90, Greg Dortch 39/66, Chris Moore 3/5, Zach Pascal 1/2

Inactive: Xavier Weaver

Suspended: Zay Jones

Harrison (11) and Wilson (9) accounted for 20 of Murray’s targets. Each had 64 yards with Wilson grabbing eight and Harrison five with a 10-yard touchdown. Wilson’s 28-yard play was the only one by a pass-catcher for 20 yards or more. Dortch caught three of his six targets for 35 yards.

Tight ends

Trey McBride 50/85, Tip Reiman 20/34, Elijah Higgins 19/32

Inactive: Travis Vokolek

McBride caught three of his six targets for only 25 yards with a long of nine. He left the game in the fourth quarter and entered the concussion protocol. Higgins had one reception for 11 yards. Reiman’s role on his 20 snaps was as a blocker.

Offensive linemen

LT Paris Johnson Jr. 59/100, LG Evan Brown 59/100, C Hjalte Froholdt 59/100, RG Will Hernandez 59/100, RT Jackson Barton 48/81, T Charlie Heck 11/19

Did not play: G Isaiah Adams, C Trystan Colon 6/9 (both played only on special teams)

Inactive: T Kelvin Beachum, G/C Jon Gaines II

Injured reserve: T Jonah Williams (eligible to return), T Christian Jones (eligible to return), T Carter O’Donnell

With Beachum inactive because of a hamstring injury suffered in practice, Barton made the first start of his career after playing a total of 13 snaps since entering the league as a seventh-round pick by the Colts in 2019. Six of those snaps came in late-game duty the week before against the Rams.

He held up well, when most likely expected him to be dominated by Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, although he was provided help. Unfortunately, he left the game in the fourth quarter with a toe injury and was replaced by Heck, who played the final 11 snaps. Both Barton and Heck were elevated from the practice squad for the game. Heck was signed to the group on Sept. 11.

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