Category: Cardinals vs. Titans

WR Antoine Wesley placed on COVID list after positive test

With Wesley testing positive for COVID-19, we will see if any other players end up not being able to play on Sunday in the season opener.

The Arizona Cardinals had wide receiver Antoine Wesley appear on the final injury report of the week with an illness. He did not participate in practice on Friday and was ruled out of Sunday’s game.

However, it went a step further.

Later in the afternoon, the NFL transaction report showed that Wesley was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list and, as a note at the end of the report, that the one player who landed on the list Friday was the result of a positive test, meaning that Wesley tested positive for COVID-19.

He enters COVID protocols and now we much watch if any other players land on the COVID list Saturday.

Fully vaccinated players deemed as having had high-risk, close contact with Wesley do not have to go on the COVID list but will be subject to daily testing for five days and must wear a mask.

However, if any player not fully vaccinated is deemed as being a close contact, he will land on the list and won’t be able to play on Sunday in the season opener.

It will be something to watch on Saturday and Sunday morning to see if the Cardinals have any other positive tests or if anyone is placed on the list for close contact.

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Chase Edmonds second to only Derrick Henry in this impressive stat

In limited playing time over the last two seasons, Cardinals RB Chase Edmonds has almost matched Derrick Henry in this statistic.

The Arizona Cardinals will face the Tennessee Titans Sunday on the road at 10 a.m. Arizona time. They have a huge task ahead as the Titans had one of the most potent offenses in 2020 and the league’s best running back in Derrick Henry.

Henry is the two-time defending rushing leader in the league. He has led the league in rushing attempts, rushing yards, rushing touchdowns and rushing yards per game in each of the past two seasons.

Arizona Cardinals running back Chase Edmonds is not on the same level as Henry. His 217 career rushing attempts are more than 100 fewer than Henry’s 378 just last season.

However, Edmonds is second only to Henry in this fun stat.

Henry and Edmonds are the only two running backs in the NFL over the last two seasons to have at least five rushing touchdowns of 20 yards or more. Henry has seven such touchdown runs in 681 rushing attempts, Edmonds has five in 157 attempts.

In fact, Edmonds’ five such touchdowns account for all five rushing touchdowns he has over the last two seasons.

He has done this as a secondary back in the Cardinals’ offense. He now will be the No. 1 back in 2021, so he will have more opportunities than ever for big plays.

Against a Titans defense that is expected to be one of the worst in 2021, he could bust a big run or two out this Sunday.

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Vance Joseph reiterates that Malcolm Butler’s retirement was for personal reasons

The Cardinals DC indicated Butler was playing well and had a big role in the defense.

When the Arizona Cardinals take on the Tennessee Titans this coming Sunday in Week 1, it was originally going to be a reunion for cornerback Malcolm Butler, who spent the last three seasons playing for the Titans.

However, his sudden retirement changes that.

The initial report was that he was dealing with a personal situation. It has been speculated that perhaps it was related to his role on the team or related to football.

Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph clarified that Thursday, telling reporters Butler had an important role on the team.

“It was a surprise for all of us,” he said. “He was a big part of what we were doing defensively. His experience showed every day. He was getting better and better within the package. He made some plays. Obviously, he’s a good tackler. He plays the ball very well.”

Butler was slated to be the team’s third cornerback, coming in for nickel defenses.

Joseph reiterated the retirement wasn’t about football.

“He’s taking care of some personal stuff and that’s important,” he said. “Obviously, football is a big part of his life, but his life is more important than football.”

Joseph noted he is “not sure” whether Butler would return to the team later.

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A.J. Brown returns to practice; 2 new Titans limited on Thursday

Check out the Titans’ second injury report of the week.

The Tennessee Titans were back on the practice field on Thursday and had one of their starting receivers return after not participating Wednesday. However, on their second injury report of the week, two new players appeared.

A.J. Brown, who sat out of Wednesday’s practice with a knee injury. He was a full participant on Thursday.

Cornerback Chris Jackson (hamstring) and linebacker David Long (hamstring) were both limited for the second day in a row on Thursday.

However, they had two players added to the injury report.

Tight end Tommy Hudson (toe) and receiver Josh Reynolds (foot) were limited Thursday.

We will see whether they are able to practice at all on Friday.

Limited participation:

  • TE Tommy Hudson (toe)
  • CB Chris Jackson (hamstring)
  • LB David Long (hamstring)
  • WR Josh Reynolds (foot)

Full participation:

  • WR A.J. Brown (knee)

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Dennis Gardeck downgraded in second injury report of the week

Gardeck was a full participant Wednesday but limited Thursday as he added a hand injury to the list.

The Arizona Cardinals had their Thursday practice and had no new additions to the injury report. However, linebacker Dennis Gardeck has a new injury and was downgraded.

Tight end Darrell Daniels, dealing with a toe injury that he suffered in the preseason, was limited in practice for the second day in a row.

But it was Gardeck who had a change. He was a full participant on Wednesday with his knee as the injury listed. He, of course, is coming back from a torn ACL he suffered last December.

On Thursday, he was downgraded to limited with a hand injury to go along with his knee. With practice squad linebacker Kylie Fitts getting protected this week, you have to wonder if Gardeck will play on Sunday. Of course, he might have been inactive this weekend anyway in his return from the ACL surgery.

Limited

  • TE Darrell Daniels (toe)
  • LB Dennis Gardeck (knee, hand)

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Cardinals protect 3 on practice squad in Week 1

The Cardinals protect LB Kylie Fitts, suggesting that Dennis Gardeck could be inactive against the Tennessee Titans.

The Arizona Cardinals have protected a trio of players on the practice squad, making it so other teams cannot sign them. One name is a name Cardinals fans will recognize.

According to Wednesday’s NFL transaction report, the Cardinals protected three players. They can choose to protect up to four players on the practice squad from being signed by another team to their active roster.

The first round of protections are a pair of cornerbacks and a linebacker.

  • LB Kylie Fitts
  • CB Rasul Douglas
  • CB Antonio Hamilton

The Cardinals can elevate two players to the 53-man roster at the end of the week to be eligible to play on Sunday. Fitts might get that designation this week.

The Cardinals have five outside linebackers on the active roster but Dennis Gardeck is coming off a torn ACL. He fully practiced on Wednesday, but head coach Kliff Kingsbury has said they would take things slow and cautiously with him.

Protecting Fitts suggests Gardeck could be made inactive this week, allowing Fitts to play on special teams in his place.

Douglas and Hamilton were recently signed to the practice squad. They are new to the defensive system. The Cardinals will use Byron Murphy, Robert Alford and rookie Marco Wilson as their three starting cornerbacks, but protecting Douglas and Hamilton mean they want to give them time to learn the system in case Wilson doesn’t work out in the regular season and is too overwhelmed covering NFL receivers as a rookie.

Don’t expect either to be elevated this week for the game.

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Titans WR A.J. Brown a DNP in first injury report of season

The starting WR for the Titans sat out Wednesday’s practice with a knee injury but anticipates playing against the Cardinals.

The Tennessee Titans released their very first injury report of the year following practice on Wednesday. Like the Arizona Cardinals, it is not very long.

Only three players appeared on the first report of the week. Starting receiver A.J. Brown was out on Wednesday and did not participate, listed with a knee injury.

However, it would appear that he plans on playing this weekend. He shared on Twitter how he traded for himself in fantasy football, anticipating a big Week 1.

Cornerback Chris Jackson (hamstring) and linebacker David Long (hamstring) were both limited in practice on Wednesday.

Starting offensive linemen Ben Jones and Nate Davis were not on the injury report but previously were on the COVID reserve. They were reinstated to the active roster.

Did not participate:

  • WR A.J. Brown (knee)

Limited:

  • CB Chris Jackson (hamstring)
  • LB David Long (hamstring)

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PODCAST: Cardinals-Titans preview, Week 1 depth chart reactions

This edition of the podcast talks about Jordan Phillips, bold 2021 predictions, the Week 1 depth chart and Cardinals-Titans in Week 1.

The newest edition of the podcast has dropped. It covers all the latest about the Arizona Cardinals, including their Week 1 matchup against the Tennessee Titans.

Revenge of the Birds’ Seth Cox and I start off talking about defensive tackle Jordan Phillips’ lastest stint on injured reserve and then make predictions — both bold and reasonable — for the 2021 season. We react to the initial depth chart, especially the news that Josh Jones will start at right guard, and then preview the Week 1 matchup against the Titans.

Enjoy the show!

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

Here are the approximate timestamps for our discussions in this show:

(1:00) Intros and Jordan Phillips — is he a bust of a signing?

(14:11) Bold and reasonable predictions for the Cardinals in 2021

(35:55) Reactions to Josh Jones as starter and the Week 1 depth chart

(51:32) Cardinals-Titans Week 1 preview

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Cardinals’ initial Week 1 injury report small

Only TE Darrell Daniels missed any practice time and was limited. LB Dennis Gardeck was a full participant.

The Arizona Cardinals released their first injury report of the year and had almost 100% participation from all players. Aside from defensive tackle Jordan Phillips, who begins the season on injured reserve, they are very healthy.

Only two players appeared on the injury report and only one missed any time.

Linebacker Dennis Gardeck, who is coming off a torn ACL, was surprisingly a full participant in practice Wednesday, which suggests he might be ready to play in the season opener.

However, if he doesn’t have an expected role this weekend, he might have only had a few reps on special teams.

Tight end Darrell Daniels was the only player limited. He has a toe injury.

Limited:

  • TE Darrell Daniel (toe)

Full:

  • OLB Dennis Gardeck (knee)

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QB Kyler Murray among Cardinals’ 9 captains for 2021

The Cardinals announced their team captains for this season. Two newcomers are captains and there are several repeat captains from last season.

The Arizona Cardinals announced their team captains for the 2021 season. They voted nine players as their captains this year, including a pair of veteran players in their first year with the Cardinals.

Quarterback Kyler Murray was among the captains. It is the second year in a row he was named captain.

It is the first time in some time that neither Patrick Peterson nor Larry Fitzgerald are captains. Neither player, of course, are on the roster. Peterson signed with the Minnesota Vikings after he was not given an offer by the Cardinals once free agency began, while Fitzgerald appears to have retired.

Check out the 2021 Cardinals captains below.

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