Cardinals vs. Seahawks – Page 3

Updated Cardinals practice squad in Week 12 after suspension, addition

The Cardinals had a practice squad player suspended and re-signed a tackle. Here is the updated practice squad for Week 12.

The Arizona Cardinals signed safety Andre Chachere to the practice squad on Monday but then made a move that perhaps was not expected. After linebacker Markus Bailey, who has been on the practice squad all season, was suspended six games for testing positive for a banned performance-enhancing substance, he was replaced by tackle Charlie Heck.

So the practice squad looks a little different than it did at the start of the week.

Here is the updated Week 12 practice squad roster:

Cardinals practice squad

QB Anthony Brown Jr.
RB Michael Carter
WR Andre Baccellia
WR Tejhaun Palmer
TE Bernhard Seikovits
OL Charlie Heck
OL Keith Ismael
OL Nick Leverett
OL Luke Tenuta
DL Anthony Goodlow
DL P.J. Mustipher
DL Ben Stille
OLB Ronnie Perkins
ILB Milo Eifler
CB Jaden Davis
CB Divaad Wilson
S Andre Chachere

These players are on the practice squad injured reserve:

OL Jackson Barton
DL Angelo Blackson

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 bring back recently released O-lineman to practice squad

Heck was cut from the active roster to make room for starting right tackle Jonah Williams, who is coming back from injured reserve.

The Arizona Cardinals released tackle Charlie Heck on Monday and he cleared waivers Tuesday.

The team brought him back, signing him to the practice squad, filling the vacancy created with the six-game suspension of linebacker Markus Bailey for a positive test for a banned performance-enhancing substance.

Heck, who turned 28 on Wednesday, has appeared in seven games for the Cardinals this season, getting 30 total snaps on offense, sometimes as a tackle-eligible and, more recently, coming in to finish the game in a blowout win over the New york Jets.

He was released from the active roster because the Cardinals will activate tackle Jonah Williams from injured reserve and reinstate him to the 53-man roster. Williams injured his knee in the first quarter of the season opener and spent the last nine games and 10 weeks on IR.

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.

RT Kelvin Beachum has been lockdown pass blocker for weeks for Cardinals

The Cardinals get Jonah Williams back from IR this week. Will he or Beachum be the better option for the rest of the season?

The Arizona Cardinals will welcome back starting right tackle Jonah Williams this week from injured reserve and that presumably means he will return to the starting lineup, where he was to start the season before suffering a knee injury in the first quarter of the season opener.

But it is going to be hard to improve on the play of Kelvin Beachum, at least in pass blocking.

Beachum struggled in relief of Williams in Week 1, but has been fantastic since.

In Week 1, he allowed a pair of sacks and a hurry, according to PFF.

Since then, in eight games (he missed one game with a hamstring injury), he has allowed a total of one sack and one hurry and has been perfect (no sacks, no hits, no hurries) in the last five games.

He has been doing that next to a backup right guard in Trystan Colon, who is in the starting lineup because Will Hernandez suffered a season-ending knee injury.

Williams was the clear-cut starter before the season and there were major questions at right tackle based on Beachum’s play in Week 1. But now you wonder if Beachum or Williams would be the better option over the rest of the season.

We will see if Williams jumps right in this week and gets all the snaps on Sunday or whether the Cardinals will split time and ease Williams back.

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 lose linebacker to 6-game suspension

One of the Cardinals’ practice squad players has been suspended six games under the league’s PED policy.

The Arizona Cardinals have lost a linebacker for the next six games. First reported by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, practice squad linebacker Markus Bailey was suspended by the league for six games under the performance-enhancing substance policy.

Bailey had only played in one game, getting elevated to the active roster to play 16 special teams snaps in Week 7 when linebacker Owen Pappoe was hurt.

With seven games left in the regular season, he will be away from the team until after the team plays the Los Angeles Rams in Week 17.

A six-game suspension under the PED policy means he tested positive for a banned anabolic agent.

His suspension opens a spot on the practice squad, which the Cardinals used to bring back tackle Charlie Heck, who was cut on Monday, presumably so that tackle Jonah Williams could return to the roster from injured reserve.

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 enter final seven games with confidence building

A look at the remaining schedule for the Cardinals and the rest of the NFC West.

It’s no secret that everyone knew how difficult the schedule would be for the Arizona Cardinals over the first eight weeks of the season, with six against 2023 playoff teams.

Conversely, the second half of the slate wasn’t as daunting with only three playoff teams from the year before.

In those first eight games, they won three of four games against playoff teams: the L.A. Rams, San Francisco 49ers and Miami Dolphins, edged the L.A. Chargers and then beat up on the Chicago Bears and New York Jets to be 6-4 at the bye.

Winning close games was a big reason. Prior to the Week 5 game at San Francisco, the Cardinals were 2-7 under head coach Jonathan Gannon in one-score games. That included losses to the Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions earlier this season.

Starting with the 49ers game, the Cardinals have won three consecutive one-score games (by a total of four points), all on late Chad Ryland field goals.

It doesn’t take a math major to realize that if only two of those were flipped, the Cardinals would be 4-6.

Conversely, the 49ers’ loss to the Seattle Seahawks Sunday on a touchdown with 12 seconds remaining was their third loss this season on scores in the final two minutes.

Against the Rams, a touchdown tied the game with 1:51 to play and the Rams then won on a field goal with two seconds on the clock. The third, of course, was to the Cardinals on a Ryland field goal with 1:37 remaining.

Playing the “flip” game, if two of their four overall one-score losses were wins, San Francisco would be 7-3 instead of 5-5 and no one would be wondering what’s wrong with the 49ers.

That’s life in the NFL.

Now, back to what’s ahead on the schedule.

The combined record of the Cardinals’ seven opponents (counting the Seahawks twice) is 34-37 and the Minnesota Vikings are the only opponent with seven or more victories.

The other three teams have a decidedly tougher road.

The 49ers play Detroit (9-1), Buffalo (9-2) and Green Bay (7-3), and the combined record of their seven opponents is 44-27.

The Rams play Buffalo and Philadelphia (8-2) and the combined record is 40-33.

The Seahawks play Minnesota and Green Bay and the combined record is 39-32.

What’s most important is that the Cardinals control their own destiny and they have to make sure to take advantage of this opportunity. No matter the opponent, most of the time it’s hard to win games in the NFL.

It’s simply a reality to know that just as this season turned around the way it is, it doesn’t take much to head back in the other direction.

As Gannon said Monday about what he expected in the first practice after the bye, “Attention to detail, focus, enthusiasm. We can’t be moping around today. We have to get a lot done today. You have to use the bonus day as a bonus day. Break a sweat, get going with our winning behavior. Let’s pick up where we left off.”

Remaining schedules in NFC West

Cardinals

Week 12 at Seattle (5-5)
Week 13 at Minnesota (8-2)
Week 14 vs. Seattle (5-5)
Week 15 vs. New England (3-8)
Week 16 at Carolina (3-7)
Week 17 at L.A. Rams (5-5)
Week 18 vs. San Francisco (5-5)

Combined opponent record: 34-37

Rams

Week 12 vs. Philadelphia (8-2)
Week 13 at New Orleans (4-7)
Week 14 vs. Buffalo (9-2)
Week 15 (Thursday) at San Francisco (5-5)
Week 16 at N.Y. Jets (3-8)
Week 17 vs. Arizona (6-4)
Week 18 vs. Seattle (5-5)

Combined opponent record: 40-33

49ers

Week 12 at Green Bay (7-3)
Week 13 at Buffalo (9-2)
Week 14 vs. Chicago (4-6)
Week 15 (Thursday) vs. L.A. Rams (5-5)
Week 16 at Miami (4-6)
Week 17 (Monday) vs. Detroit (9-1)
Week 18 at Arizona (6-4)

Combined opponent record: 44-27

Seahawks

Week 12 vs. Arizona (6-4)
Week 13 at N.Y. Jets (3-8)
Wek 14 at Arizona (6-4)
Week 15 vs. Green Bay (7-3)
Week 16 vs. Minnesota (8-2)
Week 17 (Thursday) at Chicago (4-6)
Week 18 at L.A. Rams (5-5)

Combined opponent record: 39-32

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.

Updated Cardinals practice squad in Week 12 after latest addition

The Cardinals added safety Andre Chachere to the practice squad this week. Here is what the full squad looks like in Week 12.

The Arizona Cardinals announced a practice squad move on Monday as they returned to the practice field for extra work after their bye week. They added safety Andre Chachere.

That filled their 17-player unit after releasing Russ Yeast last week.

So what does the practice squad look like now in Week 12 as they get ready to play the Seattle Seahawks?

Cardinals practice squad

QB Anthony Brown Jr.
RB Michael Carter
WR Andre Baccellia
WR Tejhaun Palmer
TE Bernhard Seikovits
OL Keith Ismael
OL Nick Leverett
OL Luke Tenuta
DL Anthony Goodlow
DL P.J. Mustipher
DL Ben Stille
OLB Ronnie Perkins
ILB Markus Bailey
ILB Milo Eifler
CB Jaden Davis
CB Divaad Wilson
S Andre Chachere

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 bring back DB who started 5 games for team last season to practice squad

Chachere joins the practice squad as the Cardinals have injuries to safeties Jalen Thompson and Joey Blount.

The Arizona Cardinals announced a small roster move for the practice squad on Monday as they returned to the practice field for bonus work coming off their bye week.

After he had a visit last week, the Cardinals announced the addition of safety Andre Chachere, who spent all last season with the team and even started five games.

The Cardinals claimed him off waivers when he was cut by the Philadelphia Eagles in May 2023. Last season, he played in 17 games, starting five, logging 30 total tackles and three pass breakups.

He spent this past offseason with the team before being part of the final roster cutdown to 53 players. He spent time earlier this season on the practice squad of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

This is actually Chachere’s fourth stint with the Cardinals.

Before he spent last year with the team, he originally joined the Cardinals on their practice squad in September 2019, was released in October, then signed to the active roster in December 2019 off Carolina’s practice squad. He was cut in May 2020 before spending 2021 and 2022 with the Philadelphia Eagles.

He gives the Cardinals safety depth, especially for special teams, as Jalen Thompson and Joey Blount were not at practice on Monday.

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.

Key Cardinals rookie finally practicing; one starter missing Monday

Report from Howard Balzer on the Cardinals’ ‘bonus’ practice on Monday and who was practicing and who was not.

It was on Aug. 22, 88 days ago that Arizona Cardinals rookie defensive lineman Darius Robinson suffered a calf injury in the team’s final practice prior to the cut to 53 players.

Robinson was placed on injured reserve five days later and was then designated for return on Oct. 9. That inspired hope that he was trending toward being ready to play. That, of course, was not the case.

Robinson watched his fellow linemates during individual drills in that first practice and was listed on the injury report as limited, which has different meaning than players on the active roster.

Since then, Robinson has not practiced and during his 21-day window before being activated, he had to deal with the death of his mom. He was activated from injured reserve Oct. 28 with the window closing because not doing that would have made him unable to play for the remainder of the season.

Now, after being seen working on the side with the team’s sports performance staff in the days leading up to the Week 10 game against the Jets, there appears finally to be light at the end of the tunnel.

Head coach Jonathan Gannon told the media Monday morning, one hour before a “bonus” day of practice after returning from the bye, Robinson would be on the field. He did in fact participate in stretching and individual drills during the portion of practice open to the media. There will be no official injury report until Wednesday. The scheduled length of the practice was 65 minutes.

Gannon said, “When he’s out there, we’ll have a specific plan for him, but if he’s out there we feel good about him being out there.”

The even-keeled Gannon added, “It’ll be good to get him out there. It’s been a long time. He’s had a tough road. He had a tough injury and he’s working his tail off to get back out there. He wants to get back out there. He had a good week last week. The return-to-play (staff), all those people, did a good job with him. So we’ll take it one day at a time.”

Gannon said during the bye week, “We had multiple guys in here working, filling up the health bucket. He was obviously one of them. He had a good week. He did not have an off week.”

Understandably, Gannon would not speculate whether Robinson will be active for next Sunday’s game in Seattle.

When asked if he’ll be on a “pitch count” if deemed available to play, Gannon said, “One day at a time with that one. We’ll put the pieces together and do the thing we think is best to win the game.”

Missing from practice were safeties Jalen Thompson and Joey Blount. Thompson did not play against the Jets because of an ankle injury, while the reason for Blount’s absence is unknown.

Tackle Kelvin Beachum, who normally doesn’t practice on Wednesday, was on the field Monday.

As we figured after there was a visit to the Cardinals last Tuesday, also on the field was safety Andre Chachere, who was signed to the practice squad Monday. Chachere played 17 games for the Cardinals in 2023, but was released in the Aug. 27 cutdown to 53 players.

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.

2024 Cardinals opponent preview: What did the Seahawks do this offseason?

At look at the Seahawks’ 2023 season, offseason moves and expectations for 2024 on the podcast.

The Arizona Cardinals face 14 different opponents in 2024. One is the Seattle Seahawks, whom they face on the road in Week 12 and at home in Week 14. What did they do this offseason?

Former Seahawks Wire managing editor Tim Weaver joined me on the most recent edition of the podcast during the opponent preview series of 14 shows in 14 days about 14 opponents (this is show No. 11) to talk about the Seahawks.

We discussed their 2023 season, the play of the defense and quarterback Geno Smith. We went over offseason changes in free agency and the draft, as well as the coaching change made from Pete Carroll to Mike Macdonald. Weaver also explained what the expectations are for the Seahawks entering 2024 with a new head coach in a tough NFC West.

Enjoy the show!

Enjoy the show with the embedded player above or by subscribing to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or your favorite podcast platform, so you never miss a show. Make sure as well to give it a five-star rating!

Times and topics:

(1:00) The Seahawks’ 2023 season

(14:46) The Seahawks’ offseason coaching changes and offseason personnel moves

(27:14) Expectations and projections for the Seahawks in 2024

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Cardinals to face 5 of 8 new head coaches hired in 2024

Six of the Cardinals’ 17 games in 2024 will be against teams who hired new head coaches this offseason.

The NFL has wrapped up its new head coaching cycle. All eight teams who needed to hire a head coach has done so. The last to do so were the Washington Commanders, who are hiring Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn.

The eight new head coaches in the NFL in 2024 are as follows:

Dan Quinn, Washington Commanders
Mike Macdonald, Seattle Seahawks
Raheem Morris, Atlanta Falcons
Dave Canales, Carolina Panthers
Jim Harbaugh, Los Angeles Chargers
Brian Callahan, Tennessee Titans
Antonio Pierce, Las Vegas Raiders
Jerod Mayo, New England Patriots

Of those new head coaches, the Arizona Cardinals will face five of them in 2024 in six games.