Cardinals injury report: 7 players sit out of Wednesday practice

They begin Week 15 with a number of injuries to watch.

After a couple of weeks of being relatively healthy, the Arizona Cardinals now are dealing with a number of injuries, although it is not known how many of them will affect playing time this week. They released their first injury report of the week after the began their week of practice and a total of seven players did not participate, although two of them were not injured. Another five were limited.

Did not practice

Safety Budda Baker (hamstring)
OL Mason Cole (knee)
WR Larry Fitzgerald (day off)
DL Corey Peters (day off)
OL Justin Pugh (back)
LB Terrell Suggs (back, illness)
OL J.R. Sweezy (illness)

Almost all the issues are new. Sweezy dealt with being sick last week but still played most of the game on Sunday. Suggs apparently caught the bug and he has had his back show up on the injury report a few times this season.

Hopefully, Baker’s hamstring issue isn’t serious. Most hamstring injuries this year have led to games missed. Cole’s knee and Pugh’s back are injuries to watch, as that means they could be down to Max Garcia on Sunday.

Limited

WR Andy Isabella (shoulder)
WR Christian Kirk (ankle)
CB Byron Murphy (calf)
CB Kevin Peterson (shoulder)
LB Joe Walker (ribs)

Kirk’s ankle might raise concerns since he missed three games earlier this year with a high ankle sprain. Murphy and Peterson played through those injuries on Sunday. Walker’s injury is new.

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Cardinals are underdogs at home vs. Browns

The Cardinals have begun every single week as underdogs this season.

For the 14th consecutive game, the Arizona Cardinals begin the week as underdogs. According to BetMGM, they are 2.5-point underdogs at home in Week 15 against the Cleveland Browns.

They were also 2.5-point underdogs at home last weekend against the Pittsburgh Steelers, who beat them 23-17.

Betting the moneyline, the Browns are a -143 and the Cardinals are at +120, meaning a bet on them to win outright would earn $12 profit for every $10 wagered.

Oddsmakers expect this game to be high-scoring. The point total is set at 48.5.

The Cardinals are 7-5-1 this season in terms of their record against the point spread. They are pretty even in terms of the over/under. They are 7-6 o/u. Their last two games have gone under the point total after three straight contests going over.

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Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

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4 changes to Cardinals’ depth chart in Week 15

KeeSean Johnson has fallen in recent weeks and Haason Reddick has a position change.

The Arizona Cardinals released their latest depth chart for Week 15. It features a few changes. Some are because of injuries. Others are because of position changes and others have to be about performance.

What are the changes?

Caraun Reid to the starting lineup

Perhaps it is because he is a veteran player, but re-signed on Tuesday, Reid is listed as a starter. Rodney Gunter was placed on injured reserve. The backups are rookies Michael Dogbe and Miles Brown. Reid has yet to play a game for the Cardinals and he is listed as a starter.

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Rodney Gunter placed on IR; Cardinals re-sign DL Caraun Reid

Gunter is the fourth defensive lineman to end up on IR for the Cardinals this season.

The Arizona Cardinals have suffered another hit to their defensive line. Rodney Gunter, who injured his ankle on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers, was placed on injured reserve, ending his season.

Gunter, who will be a free agent after the season, finishes the year with 31 total tackles, nine of which were for a loss, three sacks and 10 quarterback hits.

He joins fellow defensive linemen Zach Allen, Jonathan Bullard and Clinton McDonald on injured reserve.

With his loss, the starting defensive line will now likely be Corey Peters, Zach Kerr and Miles Brown or Michael Dogbe. That is a much different starting lineup than the one projected to be Gunter, Peters and Darius Philon.

To replace him on the roster, the Cardinals re-signed defensive lineman Caraun Reid. Reid was signed last week and released on Saturday when there were questions about the depth at cornerback.

Before initially signing with the team last week, Reid had not been in the league this year. This is his sixth NFL season and he has played for the Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Chargers and Dallas Cowboys. He has played in 44 career games, starting 13. He has 46 career tackles, 3.5 sacks, a forced fumble and two fumbles recoveries, both of which he returned for touchdowns.

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Breaking down the remaining games on the Cardinals’ schedule

The Cardinals play five games in December. What does each opponent look like right now?

The Arizona Cardinals have finished their bye week and have five games remaining on their schedule. They play their next three games at home and then are on the road in Seattle and Los Angeles for the final two games of the season.

They play the L.A. Rams next and then again last.

Let’s look at their opponents coming up.

Week 13, Week 17: Los Angeles Rams

Record: 6-4 (entering Week 12)

The Rams are a balanced 3-2 at home and 3-2 on the road. They are 3-2 in their last five games. However, they are 0-2 in the division.

They are 13th in the league in total offense and 10th in the league in scoring, averaging 24.3 points per game.

They are seventh in passing offense and 21st in rushing.

Defensively, they are 11th in yards and 11th in points allowed, giving up 19.8 points per game. They are 16th in passing defense and fourth in rush defense.

Leading passer: Jared Goff — 2,783 yards, 11 TDs, 10 INTs

Leading rusher: Todd Gurley — 525 yards, 4.1 YPC, seven touchdowns

Leading receiver: Cooper Kupp — 61 catches for 845 yards, five touchdowns

Sack leaders: Aaron Donald (8), Clay Matthews (7)

Both games are winnable. A split is a reasonable expectation. Especially coming off the bye, they hopefully win the game at home.

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Browns’ Myles Garrett, Steelers’ Maurkice Pouncey will miss games vs. Cardinals

Two of the players involved with the skirmish on Thursday night will be suspended when their teams face the Cardinals in December.

The Arizona Cardinals will be affected by the results of the fight that took place on Thursday night at the end of the game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns. Browns defensive end Myles Garrett and Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey have received suspensions from the league and will not be available for their teams when they play the Cardinals in December.

The league released a statement announcing that Garrett, who ripped off Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph’s helmet and hit him in the head with it, has been suspended indefinitely and it will be at least through the end of this season, including the postseason should the Browns make it to the playoffs.

Pouncey was suspended three games for his involvement.

The Cardinals play the Steelers in three weeks at State Farm Stadium. It will be the final game of his suspension. The Browns come to town the next week. Garrett will obviously miss that game as well.

Garrett is Cleveland’s best defensive player and leads the team with 10 sacks.

Pouncey is perhaps the Steelers’ best offensive lineman.

So while the Cardinals had nothing to do with what happened Thursday night, their December schedule became at least a little easier because of what happened.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

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