Category: Cardinals vs. Panthers

NFL confirms penalty on Xavier Thomas vs. Panthers was bad call

Thomas was not fined for a roughing the passer penalty that set up the Panthers’ first touchdown.

The NFL announces fines for player violations in Week 16. One Arizona Cardinals player, linebacker Kyzir White, received a fine for a play in which he was not penalized. Another player flagged for a penalty that most felt was a terrible call, was vindicated.

Rookie linebacker Xavier Thomas, flagged for roughing the passer in the first quarter against the Carolina Panthers, was not fined. Had the league believed it was a penalty-worthy play, Thomas would have been fined.

The penalty set up the Panthers’ first touchdown in their 36-30 overtime win over the Cardinals. It was a critical play.

With 5:07 left in the first quarter, Carolina had a third-and-goal from the eight. Thomas’ hit quarterback Bryce Young, who threw the ball away incomplete, would have forced a field-goal attempt.

The officials called him for putting all his body weight on Young, although it appeared to be clear that he hit him and moved off of Young to the side.

The play-by-play announcers believed it was a bad call and FOX  rules analyst Dean Blandino agreed.

The Panthers scored a touchdown on the next play, making the score 7-0 rather than potentially 3-0.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

Cardinals LB Kyzir White fined for unpenalized violation vs. Panthers

White was fined almost $17K on a hit on Panthers QB Bryce Young that was not penalized during the game last week.

If there is one thing consistent in the NFL, it is that fined will be levied against players even when there are no penalty flags thrown.

It happened for the second straight week when Arizona Cardinals linebacker Kyzir White was fined $16,883 for roughing Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young with an alleged blow to the neck or head area.

In the previous game, wide receiver and core special-teams player Zach Pascal was fined $11,255 for taunting where there no penalty called.

With 13:39 remaining in the game last Sunday, White hit Young hard on a blitz as he completed a 12-yard pass to tight end Tommy Tremble.

White not did lower his head on the play and replays I saw failed to show conclusively that he hit Young in the head or neck area. However, there were no replays available that had a side view of the contact.

Play-by-play announcer Chris Myers noted that Young “was leveled like a pancake,” and that he got up smiling on the play. However, Myers and analyst Mark Schlereth did not question the fact there was no penalty called on the play.

White will surely appeal as did Pascal.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

Kyler Murray, Bryce Young combine for feat not seen in NFL in over 7 decades

Sunday’s game was the first time since at least 1950 in which 2 opposing QBs each had rushing TDs of at least 20 yards.

The Arizona Cardinals lost on Sunday to the Carolina Panthers 36-30 in overtime on Sunday. It eliminated the Cardinals from playoff contention.

The quarterbacks made plays.

Carolina’s Bryce Young threw two touchdown passes and rushed for another.

Arizona’s Kyler Murray had a touchdown pass and a rushing touchdown.

They combined for something not seen in the NFL in perhaps forever.

According to Pro Football Network, Murray and Young became the first opposing quarterbacks to have rushing touchdowns of at least 20 yards in the same game since at least 1950.

Young had a 23-yard rushing touchdown in the second quarter and Murray scored from 20 yards out in the fourth quarter.

It was Young’s fourth rushing touchdown of the season.

For Murray, it was his fifth and third touchdown run of at least 20 yards.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

Kyler Murray’s mistakes mean more misery in loss to Panthers

Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray can only dwell on the countless mistakes and errors that held his team back in 2024.

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray continues to yield improbable collapses when the team needs him most. The gut-wrenching sack by Carolina’s D.J. Wonnum of Murray in overtime to help the Carolina Panthers prevail 36-30 in Week 16 won’t be easily forgotten.

In overtime, Murray and the Cardinals totaled minus-six on their final seven-play drive before punting out of their own end zone. Throughout the sequence, the team suffered a delay-of-game penalty and a loss of 14 yards on the sack mentioned above.

Words can’t justify the consistent errors, nor the frustration Cardinals fans have been forced to endure the entire 2024 season. Offensive coordinator Drew Petzing may deserve a percentage of the blame but Murray’s fourth-quarter interception throw to safety Demani Richardson was also a heave of desperation.

Murray has now thrown six interceptions over the last five games. With the loss, the Cardinals have now been eliminated from playoff contention. In Year 6 of Murray’s professional career, fans must wonder when his intuitiveness and decision-making abilities will mature.

Nevertheless, the broadcast cameras will only be forced to zoom in on Murray’s sideline antics and vivid isolation for only two more weeks.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

James Conner sets new career-high, moves up Cardinals’ all-time list in loss

Conner is now No. 3 in franchise history in career rushing yards after he rushed for 117 against the Panthers.

The Arizona Cardinals lost on Sunday 36-30 in overtime to the Carolina Panthers, but running back James Conner had a big game. While he exited the game in the second half with a knee injury, he had over 150 yards from scrimmage.

With 117 rushing yards, reached 1,000 yards for the second consecutive season, set a new career-high in rushing yards in a single season and moved up the franchise all-time list.

He entered the game with 973 rushing yard on the season. With 117 on Sunday, he now has 1,090. It was the second time in his career that he reached 1,000 yards in a season. He did it last season, rushing for 1,040 yards.

With two such seasons, he joins Ottis Anderson and Edgerrin James as the only players in team history to have multiple 1,000-yard rushing seasons. James had two, while Anderson had five.

He entered the game No. 5 on the Cardinals’ all-time list for career rushing yards with 3,547. No 4 on the list was Johnny Roland with 3,608.

With 117 yards, Conner’s total now is 3,664, putting him in fourth place, 56 yards ahead of Roland. No. 3 in franchise history is Jim Otis, who rushed for 3,863 yards with the Cardinals. Conner is 199 yards behind him.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

Banged-up Cardinals suffer more injuries in loss to Panthers, including James Conner

James Conner was among four more key players for the Cardinals to get hurt in their loss to the Panthers.

The Arizona Cardinals entered Week 16 with several key players injured. Facing the Carolina Panthers, they played without left tackle Paris Johnson, who has a knee injury that could keep him out multiple weeks, running back Trey Benson with an ankle injury, inside linebacker Mack Wilson with a concussion and outside linebacker Jesse Luketa, placed on injured reserve with a thigh injury.

In their 36-30 overtime loss that eliminated them from postseason contention, more key players went down.

  • Running back James Conner, who had up until that point rushed for 117 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries and caught four passes for 49 yards, injured his right knee and could not return.
  • Starting right tackle Jonah Williams went down a play after Conner came out. He hurt his knee and had to be assisted to the locker room. His injury looked like it could be serious. ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss noted after the game that Williams left on crutches with a brace on his knee.
  • Linebacker Baron Browning, who had a sack for the second straight week and two tackles, left with a neck injury and didn’t return.
  • Safety Joey Blount, perhaps their best special teams player, made a tackle on a punt play and injured his ribs. He was in a lot of pain and did not return.

The Cardinals have two games remaining on the schedule. We will see if any of these players will be able to play again.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

James Conner, Jonah Williams leave game with knee injuries

James Conner and Jonah Williams were questionable to return for the Cardinals against the Panthers in the second half.

The Arizona Cardinals had a pair of offensive starters get hurt in the third quarter against the Carolina Panthers. Just before Chad Ryland kicked a 30-yard field goal to pull the Cardinals within three points at 23-20, running back James Conner left the game limping and right tackle Jonah Williams went down with knee injuries.

Conner limped off the field and had his right knee examined after a two-yard reception. He was taken into the blue medical tent. He was ruled questionable to return.

Williams was assisted to the locker room and ruled questionable to return. Jackson Barton replaced Williams in the lineup at right tackle.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

Panthers starter center out vs. Cardinals in Week 16

Check out the Panthers’ Week 16 inactives vs. the Cardinals.

The Arizona Cardinals had two starting offensive linemen questionable to play against the Carolina Panthers but both would suit up and play. The Panthers, after adding starting center Cade Mays to the injury report with an illness, had three who were questionable.

Mays would miss the game, while the other two — tackle Ikem Okwonu and guard Robert Hunt — were good to go.

So the Panthers would play the Cardinals in Week 16 without Mays and also without rookie receiver Xavier Legette, their first-round pick, as he was ruled out of the game on the final injury report with a hip injury.

Here are Carolina’s inactive players for Week 16:

  • WR Xavier Legette
  • S Jordan Fuller
  • CB Shemar Bartholomew
  • WR Velus Jones Jr.
  • CB Akayleb Evans
  • C Cade Mays
  • OL Brandon Walton

Fuller is inactive after starting eight games. Rookie Demani Richardson will start in his place.

David Moore was questionable to play with a concussion. He cleared protocol and will start in place of Legette.

With Mays out, Brady Christenson is expected to start.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

O-linemen Evan Brown, Hjalte Froholdt good to go for Cardinals vs. Panthers

The only starting O-lineman to miss the game against the Panthers was Paris Johnson.

The Arizona Cardinals had questions on the offensive line entering their Week 16 game against the Carolina Panthers. Left tackle Paris Johnson was ruled out with a knee injury that could keep him out of the lineup for multiple weeks. Left guard Evan Brown was questionable with a neck in jury that had him miss practice Friday. Center Hjalte Froholdt was added to the injury report Sunday with an illness and was questionable.

Only Johnson will miss the game.

The Cardinals released their inactive list 90 minutes before kickoff and only Johnson of the three would not dress.

The inactive list, aside from players ruled out with injuries, was completely expected.

Cardinals Week 16 inactive list

  • LB Mack Wilson
  • S Jammie Robinson
  • RB Trey Benson
  • OL Paris Johnson
  • OL Christian Jones
  • TE Travis Vokolek
  • WR Xavier Weaver

Wilson (concussion), Benson (ankle) and Johnson (knee) were ruled out with injuries. Jones, Vokolek and Weaver are weekly inactives. Robinson was acquired this week via waivers.

Defensive lineman Khyiris Tonga is active after being inactive for three games.

Running back DeeJay Dallas was questionable with an illness but is good to go.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

Cardinals vs. Panthers injury report: Latest updates, news for Week 16

All the latest updates and news on the Cardinals’ injury report ahead of a Week 16 game vs. the Panthers.

The Arizona Cardinals go on the road in Week 16 hoping to get back over .500 and stay in the mix to win the NFC West. They play the 3-11 Carolina Panthers, who have lost four games in a row.

Both teams come into the game banged up and had additions to their injury report on Sunday.

The Cardinals will have a backup left tackle and backup linebacker in the game. A practice squad player will have a significant role on offense.

Much of the Panthers’ offensive line is questionable to play.

Both teams’ starting centers were added to the injury report Sunday morning with illnesses. They are now questionable to play.

Let’s have an updated look at the injury report for both teams.

Cardinals injury report

Ruled out

  • RB Trey Benson (ankle)
  • LT Paris Johnson Jr. (knee)
  • *CB Elijah Jones (ankle)
  • OLB Jesse Luketa (thigh/placed on injured reserve)
  • *K Matt Prater (left knee)
  • ILB Mack Wilson Sr. (concussion)

Questionable

  • G Evan Brown (neck)
  • RB DeeJay Dallas (illness)
  • OL Hjalte Froholdt (illness)
  • DL Roy Lopez (ankle)
  • CB Sean Murphy-Bunting (hand)

Panthers injury report

Ruled out

  • WR Xavier Legette (hip)

Questionable

  • OLB Jadeveon Clowney (illness/knee)
  • WR Jalen Coker (quadriceps)
  • T Ikem Ekwonu (illness)
  • G Robert Hunt (illness)
  • C Cade Mayes (illness)
  • WR David Moore (concussion)
  • DE A’Shawn Robinson (knee)

RB Trey Benson injury update

Benson injured his ankle in Week 15 against the Patriots and didn’t practice all week. With him ruled out, veteran Michael Carter was elevated from the practice squad to play

LT Paris Johnson injury update

Johnson has a strained MCL and could miss multiple weeks, per one report. Kelvin Beachum will start in his place. Tackle Jackson Barton was elevated from the practice squad to be the backup swing tackle.

WRs Jalen Coker and David Moore injury update

Adam Schefter reported Saturday that both players are expected to be able to play against the Cardinals.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.