Category: Cardinals vs. Lions

State Farm Stadium won’t be completely empty when Cardinals face Lions

Up to 750 close friends or family of players, coaches and staff will be allowed to attend.

The Arizona Cardinals’ first two home games of the season are not open to the public. The team already announced no fans will be allowed to attend for last week’s game against the Washington Football Team and their upcoming game against the Detroit Lions this coming Sunday.

However, they have received permission to allow some people to attend the game in the stands as a way to test their health and safety protocols.

Reported by multiple publications, the team announced on its official website that they can have up to 750 spectators made up of close family and friends of players, coaches and staff.

This will be a key step to the return of fans to games, although the conditions in the Phoenix area are still not such that large gatherings can be permitted.

If all goes well with the smaller group of spectators, and if things improve in the state with COVID numbers, the Cardinals could be in position to be able to allow at least a limited number of fans to attend future games.

After the Cardinals play the Detroit Lions this weekend, they go on the road for three games. Their next home game will be October 25 when they host the Seattle Seahawks.

[vertical-gallery id=443957]

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

Latest show:


Previous shows:


and


Cardinals sign TE Jordan Thomas to active roster, add OL to practice squad

Thomas fills the vacant spot on the roster.

The Arizona Cardinals have not yet announced it, but they have signed a player to their 53-man roster. According to Tuesday’s NFL transaction report, the Cardinals signed tight end Jordan Thomas to the active roster, but it was done in an interesting way.

Thomas was elevated to the roster from the practice squad over the weekend leading up to the team’s Week 2 game against the Washington Football Team.

Rather than simply reverting back to the practice squad, Thomas terminated his contract with the team, as he is permitted to do under this year’s practice squad rules.

He was not technically elevated from the practice squad. He was signed as a free agent.

The difference is that if he were simply promoted to the roster, the Cardinals could relegate him to the practice squad again without being exposed to waivers. He would go from active roster money to practice squad money.

This way, if the Cardinals shoose to move him off the active roster, he must clear waivers before they can sign him back to the practice squad, allowing him the opportunity to have another team claim him and continue to keep him on an active roster.

The Cardinals had a roster vacancy because running back D.J. Foster went back to the practice squad and was placed on the practice squad injured reserve.

Now, with an open spot on the practice squad, the team announced the signing of offensive lineman Rick Leonard to fill the vacancy.

Leonard had been on the Cardinals’ practice squad in 2018 briefly.

The 6-7, 311-pounder spent all of last season on Houston’s practice squad and was with the Texans in training camp prior to being released on September 5. Leonard originally entered the league with New Orleans as a fourth-round pick (127th overall) in the 2018 NFL Draft out of Florida State and also spent time on the practice squads of the Saints and Rams as a rookie.

[vertical-gallery id=443957]

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

Latest show:


Previous shows:


and


Lions WR Kenny Golladay expected to make 2020 debut vs. Cardinals

The Cardinals will likely have to face the Lions with their best offensive player on the field.

The Detroit Lions will come to town to face the 2-0 Arizona Cardinals but should have their best offensive player back in the lineup. After missing the first two games of the season with a hamstring injury, he is reportedly set to return, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Golladay caught 65 passes in 2019 for 1,190 yards and a league-leading 11 touchdowns. He was a Pro Bowler for the first time last year.

Against the Cardinals in the 2019 season opener, a 27-27 tie, he caught four passes for 42 yards and a touchdown.

Lions head coach Matt Patricia did not come out and say that Golladay would return, but he is optimistic things are headed in that direction.

“We’ll see what it looks like obviously, but I think we’re close,” he told reporters Monday. “We’ll get him out and get him in some of those situations, and a lot of times it’s how does the body react after we put guys in those situations that we really try to gauge because you certainly don’t want to do something then have it in a weaker state, then go out and have an injury that’s maybe more substantial after.”

The Cardinals and Lions will kick off at State Farm Stadium Sunday afternoon at 1:25 p.m. Arizona time.

[vertical-gallery id=443950]

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

Latest show:


Previous shows:


and


Cardinals favored in Week 3, but line moving towards Lions

The Cardinals opened as 6.5-point favorites. They are now 5.5-point favorites.

The Arizona Cardinals are a surprising 2-0 to start the 2020 NFL season and opened Week 3 as favorites at home against the Detroit Lions, who are 0-2 to start the year. However, early movement in the line is heading towards the Lions, although the Cardinals are still big favorites.

According to BetMGM, the Cardinals opened the week as 6.5-point favorites and priced at -286 on the money line. The point total was set at 52.5.

Since opening, perhaps because Lions receiver Kenny Golladay appears to be set to return in Week 3, the point spread has moved to -5.5 for the Cardinals and the money line has moved to -250. Detroit was initially +235 on the money line but now is +215.

The point total has also moved up to 54.5.

Thus far this season, the Cardinals are 2-0 against the spread and their games have gone Under both weeks. The Lions are 0-2 against the spread and both of their games have gone Over.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

[vertical-gallery id=443950]

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

Latest show:


Previous shows:


and