Category: Cardinals vs. Lions

Christian Kirk misses 2nd day of practice; Jordan Phillips upgraded

It appears that KeeSean Johnson will get more playing time on Sunday.

The Arizona Cardinals released their second injury report of the week and it appears they could be without receiver Christian Kirk when they take on the Detroit Lions this weekend. Kirk was one of two players who did not practice for the second day in a row.

Kirk, who injured his groin in the team’s win on Sunday, does not appear that he will be able to play on Sunday, which means more opportunities for KeeSean Johnson, recently activated off the COVID-19 list.

Center Mason Cole missed practice as well, as he continues to recover from his hamstring injury. It would appear that Lamont Gaillard will make his second straight start on Sunday.

Defensive lineman Jordan Phillips was upgraded. He did not participate on Wednesday with an ankle injury but was limited on Thursday.

Cornerback Byron Murphy was limited on Wednesday with a shoulder injury. He participated fully on Thursday.

Receivers Larry Fitzgerald and DeAndre Hopkins returned fully to practice on Thursday after a day off.

Did not practice:

  • C Mason Cole (hamstring)
  • WR Christian Kirk (groin)

Limited:

  • DL Jordan Phillips (ankle)

Full:

  • S Budda Baker (thumb)
  • CB Byron Murphy (shoulder)
  • WR Larry Fitzgerald (no injury)
  • WR DeAndre Hopkins (no injury)

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Kyler Murray remains grounded even after 2-0 start

However, he isn’t surprised by the team’s success.

The Arizona Cardinals are riding high after a pair of wins to start the season. They are 2-0 and have a stretch on their schedule where they could be as good as 5-0.

They are also beginning to get some nationwide attention.

But quarterback Kyler Murray is not letting the early success get to his head. He knows they have a long way to go. At the same time, he isn’t surprised at their early success.

“It’s not my first time dealing with success in my lifetime,” he said to reporter on Wednesday. “This is this part of the game. We work hard in the offseason, we work hard to practice, to win. We expect to win. I think everybody should expect to win. When you do you shouldn’t be surprised by it.

“I’m not a guy that gets too high, gets too low. I am who I am. I will remain the same no matter what, but like I said, this isn’t the first time dealing with success. For me personally I’ve done nothing, as a team I feel like we’ve done nothing. We just got to continue to work.”

Murray believes in himself and wants to be great. He expects it. So he isn’t going to overlook anyone on the schedule.

As for the rest of the team, it is clear their is a message being communicated from the coaching staff. Defensive lineman Jordan Phillips also said they haven’t accomplished anything.

Fans should be excited. But the players should enjoy the ride and know that winning doesn’t just come. It comes with work.

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Kyler Murray asked DeAndre Hopkins to own up to mistake leading to INT

Hopkins ran a wrong route, which put the safety in the area.

One of the few mistakes Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray has made this season was an interception against the Washington Football Team on Sunday. However, he would like it known it wasn’t all on him.

Receiver DeAndre Hopkins brought up the interception when he spoke to reporters on Tuesday. He took the blame for the turnover.

“I ran the wrong route, so the safety wouldn’t have been there if it wasn’t for me running the wrong route,” he said, noting the pick was “definitely” his fault. “I definitely hurt my team in that aspect.”

Both Hopkins and Andy Isabella were in the general vicinity of the throw. It appeared to be Isabella Murray was trying to target. He appeared to try and get the ball out quickly to that spot as there was pressure coming in his face. It resulted in a turnover.

Murray wanted Hopkins to own up to the mistake.

“I told him to tell you that because he did run the wrong route, but it’s all good,” he told reporters on Wednesday.

Head coach Kliff Kingsbury appreciates it, too. “I think first off, as a former quarterback, you definitely appreciate him owning that,” he said on Wednesday. “It shows his security as a player and what he’s about.”

Murray has owned up to mistakes he has made. The fact a superstar like Hopkins is willing to do this for his quarterback speaks volumes as to his character and how people in the locker room feel bout Murray.

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WR Jaron Brown returns to Cardinals, is signed to practice squad

He played five seasons with Arizona from 2013-2017.

The Arizona Cardinals added a familiar face at receiver on Wednesday. The team announced it signed receiver Jaron Brown to the practice squad.

They needed more bodies at receiver, as three did not practice on Wednesday.

Brown, of course, spent five seasons with the team from 2013-2017. He made the team as an undrafted rookie out of Clemson in 2013 and was immediately a contributor on special teams.

While with the Cardinals,  had 86 receptions for 1,177 yards and nine touchdowns.

He played the past two seasons for the Seattle Seahawks. He played in 30 games and had 30 receptions for 386 yards and seven touchdowns. Last season, Brown played in 14 games with the Seahawks and had 16 receptions for 220 yards and two touchdowns. He spent the offseason with the San Francisco 49ers before being released at the end of August.

It is only the practice squad now, but if he needed on the roster as the season progresses, Brown is a reliable veteran who can be counted on, at least on special teams.

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Cardinals LB Jordan Hicks says Kyler Murray’s accuracy is what makes him special

Hicks actually said Murray’s stature makes it harder to defend him as a linebacker.

With his performance over the first two weeks of the season, Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray has gotten a bit of attention. He is the first player to ever have over 500 passing yards and more than 150 rushing yards in the first two games of a season.

His teammate, linebacker Jordan Hicks, appeared on the Jim Rome Show and was asked about what sets Murray apart from other quarterbacks.

Some have knocked Murray for being small but Hicks said it actually makes it tough to defend.

“When I’m the linebacker, I’m trying to read the eyes of the quarterback and it’s tough because he’s so small and he’s able to maneuver in the pocket that you don’t see the ball pop out until the last second,” Hicks explained. “You can’t see his eyes and the ball just pops out of the pocket.”

Hicks of course spoke about Murray’s speed and athleticism, but that isn’t what makes him special. It is the ball placement on his throws.

“Hee’s putting those balls right exactly where they need to be,” he said. “I think the most impressive thing to me, and I see it day in and day out, is his ability to put the ball exactly where it needs to be. When you’ve got a quarterback that can put it wherever it needs to be, off his back foot, on the run, in the pocket, any type of situation, I think that makes you special.”

Murray has led the Cardinals to a 2-0 start. They play the 0-2 Detroit Lions next at home this Sunday at 1:25 p.m.

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CB Desmond Trufant doesn’t practice for Lions; WR Kenny Golladay limited

Check out the Lions’ first injury report of the week.

The Detroit Lions released their first injury report of the week on Wednesday and had one player who was unable to practice, while another four players sat out.

Cornerback Desmond Trufant was the one not to practice, sitting out with a hamstring injury.

Receiver Kenny Golladay, who missed the first two games of the season with a hamstring injury, and who is expected to return to action this week against the Cardinals, was limited on Wednesday.

Tight end Hunter Bryant also was limited, also with a hamstring injury.

Tackle Halapoulivaati Vaitai was limited with a foot injury and defensive tackle Nick Williams was limited with a shoulder injury.

Did not practice:

  • CB Desmond Trufant (hamstring)

Limited:

  • WR Kenny Golladay (hamstring)
  • TE Hunter Bryant (hamstring)
  • OL Halapoulivaati Vaitai (foot)
  • DL Nick Williams (shoulder)

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Christian Kirk, Jordan Phillips miss practice on Wednesday with injuries

The Cardinals had five players sit out of Wednesday’s practice.

The Arizona Cardinals began their week of practice on Wednesday getting ready for their Week 3 matchup against the Detroit Lions. They released the first injury report of the week and had a couple of new injuries pop up that kept players out of practice.

Receivers Larry Fitzgerald and DeAndre Hopkins did not practice but that was their typical rest day.

Center Mason Cole, who missed all last week and did not play in Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury he suffered in the season opener, did not practice on Wednesday.

Two other starters did not practice. Receiver Christian Kirk sat out with a groin injury and defensive tackle Jordan Phillips sat out with an ankle injury.

Kirk suffered some tightness in Sunday’s game but fought through it.

We will see if they are able to practice Thursday and Friday.

Cornerback Byron Murphy was limited with a shoulder injury and safety Budda Baker appeared on the injury report with a thumb injury but was a full participant.

Did not practice:

  • OL Mason Cole (hamstring)
  • WR Larry Fitzgerald (day off)
  • WR DeAndre Hopkins (day off)
  • WR Chirstian Kirk (groin)
  • DL Jordan Phillips (ankle)

Limited:

  • CB Byron Murphy (shoulder)

Full:

  • S Budda Baker (thumb)

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Cardinals protect four practice squad players in Week 3

RB Jonathan Ward is in position to be elevated from the practice squad and be active on Sunday against the Lions.

NFL teams are allowed to protect up to four players on their practice squad each week, preventing other teams from signing them to their active rosters. The Arizona Cardinals, in Weeks 1 and 2, did not protect the full four players. They protected only three each week.

In Week 3, preparing to take on the 0-2 Detroit Lions, they have protected four players, based on the NFL transaction report from Tuesday.

This week, the Cardinals are protecting a pair of defensive linemen and two undrafted rookies.

  • DL Jonathan Bullard
  • DL Michael Dogbe
  • RB Jonathan Ward
  • CB Jace Whittaker

Teams can elevate up to two practice squad players to have 55 players from which to choose to have active on game days. The Cardinals currently only have two running backs and four cornerbacks on the roster. Ward seems destined to be active on Sunday.

Protecting Whittaker is insurance against an injury during the week, as is protecting the defensive linemen. The first injury report of the week will come out Wednesday afternoon.

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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.

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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.

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