Category: Cardinals vs. Bills

Bills injury report: 5 players upgraded on Thursday

Things got much better on Thursday’s injury report.

The Buffalo Bills began Week 10 with a lengthy injury report on Wednesday. On Thursday, their outlook improved dramatically as five players were upgraded from their status on Wednesday.

Only two players sat out on Thursday — running back Taiwan Jones (hamstring) and defensive end Mario Addison, although the veteran was just given the day off.

Eight players were limited. Safety Micah Hyde was a new addition. He has an ankle injury.

Guard Cody Ford (ankle) was unable to go on Wednesday and was limited Thursday. Linebacker Del’Shawn Phillips (quad) was upgraded to limited. So were cornerback Tre’Davious White (ankle) and guard Brian Winters (knee).

G Jon Feliciano (back) was limited for the second day in row, as was quarterback Jake Fromm (non-injury related). So was cornerback Josh Norman (hamstring).

Receiver John Brown (knee) sat out Wednesday but practiced fully on Thursday. Defensive end Jerry Hughes (foot) also went from not practicing Wednesday to a full load on Thursday.

Center Mitch Morse (concussion), running back T.J. Yeldon (back) and quarterback Josh Allen (shoulder) were all full participants for the second day in a row.

Did not participate:

  • DE Mario Addison (rest)
  • RB Taiwan Jones (hamstring)

Limited participation:

  • G Cody Ford (ankle)
  • LB Del’Shawn Phillips (quad)
  • CB Tre’Davious White (ankle)
  • G Brian Winters (knee)
  • G Jon Feliciano (back)
  • QB Jake Fromm (non-injury related)
  • S Micah Hyde (ankle)
  • CB Josh Norman (hamstring)

Full participation:

  • WR John Brown (knee)
  • DE Jerry Hughes (foot)
  • QB Josh Allen (shoulder)
  • C Mitch Morse (concussion)
  • RB T.J. Yeldon (back)

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Kenyan Drake limited Thursday; Maxx Williams upgraded for Cardinals

A look at the Cardinals’ Thursday injury report.

The Arizona Cardinals released their second injury report of the week on Thursday. There were two new additions who were unable to practice.

Backup quarterback Chris Streveler and backup center Lamont Gaillard both were unable to practice on Thursday with an illness. It is not, though, COVID-19 because if they had that, they would have been moved to the COVID list.

Veteran defensive tackle Corey Peters and veteran receivers Larry Fitzgerald and DeAndre Hopkins, who all had the day off on Wednesday, returned to practice on Thursday and were full participants.

However, safety Budda Baker (groin), defensive lineman Leki Fotu (ankle), defensive tackle Jordan Phillips (hamstring) and guard Justin Murray (hand) were non-participants for the second day in a row. Baker, though, is expected to be able to play, according to defensive coordinator Vance Joseph.

Safety Deionte Thompson (knee) and tight end Maxx Williams (ankle), both of whom sat out on Wednesday, were able to get limited work on Thursday.

Running back Kenyan Drake (ankle) and cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick (thigh) were limited for the second day in a row.

Did not participate:

  • QB Chris Streveler (illness)
  • C Lamont Gaillard (illness)
  • S Budda Baker (groin)
  • DL Leki Fotu (ankle)
  • DL Jordan Phillips (hamstring)
  • G Justin Murray (hand)

Limited participation:

  • RB Kenyan Drake (ankle)
  • CB Dre Kirkpatrick (thigh)
  • TE Maxx Williams (ankle)
  • S Deionte Thompson (knee)

Full participation:

  • WR Larry Fitzgerald (Wednesday rest)
  • WR DeAndre Hopkins (Wednesday rest)
  • DL Corey Peters (Wednesday rest)

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Cardinals remain committed to Zane Gonzalez as kicker

Kingsbury: “I have all the faith in the world in Zane. We weren’t able to convert that field goal, but he’s done a tremendous job for us, and that’s football.”

In the final two minutes of the Arizona Cardinals’ 34-31 loss to the Miami Dolphins, they had the opportunity to tie the game and potentially force overtime. However, Zane Gonzalez was short on the 49-yard kick and the Cardinals were unable to get the ball back.

It was the second straight game in which he missed a critical kick. He missed a field goal in overtime against the Seattle Seahawks, but was able to redeem himself and make the game-winner after the defense got the ball back.

That doesn’t appear to change the Cardinals’ commitment to Gonzalez.

Appearing on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM on Monday, when head coach Kliff Kingsbury was specifically asked if the team remains committed to Gonzalez, he simply said, “We are.”

Kingsbury doesn’t really regret the move to kick the field goal.

“I wish we could have converted on the third down previously, but when we didn’t and it was fourth down, I have all the faith in the world in Zane,” he said. “We weren’t able to convert that field goal, but he’s done a tremendous job for us, and that’s football.”

The Cardinals do have veteran kicker Mike Nugent on the practice squad but it doesn’t appear they have any plans of making a change any time soon.

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Budda Baker expected to play for Cardinals despite missing practice Wednesday, Thursday

Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said Baker is improving daily.

The Arizona Cardinals have had a lengthy injury report so far this week as they prepare for the Buffalo Bills in Week 10. One notable player on the injury report has been safety Budda Baker, who missed practice both on Wednesday and on Thursday, listed with a groin injury.

With only one day of practice remaining, there appears to be some doubt about his availability for the game.

However, he should be good to go, according to defensive coordinator Vance Joseph.

“So far, it looks good for Budda,” Joseph told reporters on Thursday. “He’s getting better and better every day. I expect Budda to play.”

If he is able to go, it would give the Cardinals their full starting secondary for the first time since the season opener. Baker and Jalen Thompson both played Sunday, with Thompson playing for the first time since the second play of the season. Dre Kirkpatrick and Byron Murphy missed Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins. Murphy was out after contracting COVID-19 and Kirkpatrick had a thigh injury. Murphy is back and Kirkpatrick has gotten limited work all week so far.

Against a loaded Buffalo Bills passing attack, the Cardinals will need all the help they can get. Hopefully Joseph is right when he says Baker should play. He also said Kirkpatrick should be fine to play last week, but he did not end up playing.

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Bills injury report: 7 players out Wednesday, 3 limited

Check out the full Bills injury report on Wednesday.

The Buffalo Bills, the Arizona Cardinals’ opponent this weekend, kicked off their week of practice in Week 10 with a lengthy injury report. Seven players did not practice and three were limited.

Several starters were in the mix.

Receiver John Brown missed with a knee injury. Guard Cody Ford missed with an ankle injury. Cornerback Tre’Davious White also sat out with an ankle injury. Defensive end Jerry Hughes missed with a foot injury.

Running back Taiwan Jones missed a hamstring injury. A quadriceps injury kept linebacker Del’Shawn Phillip out. It was a knee for guard Brian Winters.

Three others were limited — Guard John Feliciano with a back injury, cornerback Josh Norman with a hamstring injury and quarterback Jake Fromm, who simply got some time off.

Starting quarterback Josh Allen (shoulder), center Mitch Morse (concussion) and running back T.J. Yeldon (back) were all full participants.

Did not participate:

  • WR John Brown (knee)
  • G Cody Ford (ankle)
  • DE Jerry Hughes (foot)
  • RB Taiwan Jones (hamstring)
  • LB Del’Shawn Phillips (quad)
  • CB Tre’Davious White (ankle)
  • G Brian Winters (knee)

Limited participation:

  • G John Feliciano (back)
  • QB Jake Fromm (non-injury related)
  • CB Josh Norman (hamstring)

Full Participation:

  • QB Josh Allen (shoulder)
  • C Mitch Morse (concussion)
  • RB T.J. Yeldon (back)

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Kenyan Drake returns to practice; 9 Cardinals sit out Wednesday’s practice

The Cardinals had nine players out on Wednesday and two limited.

The Arizona Cardinals kicked off their week of practice in Week 10 with a lengthy injury report. Nine players did not participate in practice and another two were limited.

Running back Kenyan Drake returned to practice for the first time since his ankle injury. He got limited work, as did cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick, who sat out Sunday’s game with a thigh injury.

Three players who missed practice on Wednesday simply had the day off — defensive tackle Corey Peters and receivers Larry Fitzgerald and DeAndre Hopkins.

Six sat out with injuries.

Safety Budda Baker sat out with a groin injury. He did not miss any time in the game on Sunday. Rookie defensive lineman Leki Fotu missed with an ankle injury. Guard Justin Murray sat out with a hand injury. Defensive lineman Jordan Phillips, who played only 12 snaps on Sunday, missed with a hamstring injury. Safety Deionte Thompson sat out with a knee injury. Tight end Maxx Williams, activated off injured reserve last week, sat out with an ankle injury.

The injuries at safety are worth watching, as Thompson would be the guy to start in Baker’s place if he is unable to go.

Did not participate:

  • DL Corey Peters (rest)
  • WR Larry Fitzgerald (rest)
  • WR DeAndre Hopkins (rest)
  • S Budda Baker (groin)
  • S Deionte Thompson (knee)
  • DL Jordan Phillips (hamstring)
  • DL Leki Fotu (ankle)
  • TE Maxx Williams (ankle)
  • OL Justin Murray (hand)

Limited:

  • RB Kenyan Drake (ankle)
  • CB Dre Kirkpatrick (thigh)

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PODCAST: What went wrong against the Dolphins, Week 10 preview

Listen to the latest edition of the podcast.

A new edition of the podcast has dropped and focused on the Arizona Cardinals’ loss to the Miami Dolphins in Week 9. In this episode, Revenge of the Birds’ Seth Cox and I discuss how frustrating the loss was, what went wrong, the blossoming play of Kyler Murray, the impact of the Cardinals’ new players and those coming back from injury and then look ahead to their Week 10 matchup Buffalo Bills.

Enjoy the show, make sure to subscribe to it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favorite platform, and make sure to give it a five-star rating.

Here are the topics and approximate timestamps.

(1:30) The frustration in the loss

(10:15) What went wrong in the loss

(32:25) Kyler Murray and Tua Tagovailoa

(46:10) The impact of the Cardinals’ new players and returners from injuries

(53:53) Previewing the Cardinals’ Week 10 matchup against the Bills and whether or not they are in trouble

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Special teams play has been Eno Benjamin’s obstacle to playing time

The Cardinals appear to be stashing him for next year.

Many Arizona Cardinals fans were excited when the team selected running back Eno Benjamin in the seventh round of the NFL draft. He, of course, played for Arizona State and put up big numbers.

He has not yet had the opportunity to play or even dress for a game. He has been inactive for all of the team’s eight games this season.

With Kenyan Drake out last week, some hoped he would get an opportunity.

Head coach Kliff Kingsbury explained it to reporters on Wednesday. It doesn’t really have anything to do with his talent.

“I would say more than anything just being able to contribute on special teams,” he explained. “When you’re in that third back slot where he’s at this point, it’s hard to be up if you’re not participating in that phase. He’s a talented runner. I thought he had a really nice camp. We like his future here, and we’re still just kind of bringing him along at this point.”

D.J. Foster has been a core special teams player for multiple seasons. Rookie Jonathan Ward has contributed on special teams. Whether Benjamin simply isn’t being given the opportunity or isn’t as good at it as Foster or Ward, it sounds like the Cardinals are essentially stashing him for next year, when Kenyan Drake likely leaves in free agency, and he can be the No. 2 back behind Chase Edmonds.

In the meantime, if Benjamin is going to get any playing time this season, it will have to be by being able to be counted on in the special teams unit.

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Cardinals sign CB Johnathan Joseph; activate CB Byron Murphy, LB Devon Kennard

The Cardinals make a number of roster moves on Wednesdays.

The Arizona Cardinals announced a flurry of roster moves on Wednesday morning, ahead of their returning to practice to start Week 10.

They added a player, get back a pair of others and deal with some injuries.