Tag: cardinals vs. commanders

Cardinals get extra practice for Week 1

The Cardinals will practice on Monday despite being a holiday for most of us.

The Arizona Cardinals will get one more practice in Week 1 than they normally would.

While many of us have Monday off for the Labor Day holiday, the Cardinals will not.

Head coach Jonathan Gannon, speaking to reporters last week, detailed the plan for Week 1.

They had the weekend off but will get a bonus practice on Monday.

They will have their normal Tuesday day off and then practice Wednesday through Friday.

The Cardinals will travel to Washington Friday night and do a mock game day on Saturday in an effort to ease the effects of the time change.

With newly acquired Josh Dobbs expected to start in the opener, having an extra day of reps will come in handy.

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

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=2015]

Cardinals’ Week 1 opponent projected to have worst offense in NFL

The Commanders are projected to average only 18.2 points per game in 2023.

The Arizona Cardinals will open the season this week on the road against the Washington Commanders. Like Arizona, the Commanders finished in last place in their division in 2022 and have a new starting quarterback in Week 1.

While the Cardinals are seven-point underdogs in the season opener, they face a team expected to struggle on offense.

ESPN’s Mike Clay projects the Commanders will score the fewest points in the NFL

Washington has finished bottom-10 in scoring each of the past five seasons and will now turn to Sam Howell — a 2022 fifth-round pick who attempted 19 passes as a rookie — as its starting quarterback. Perhaps the Commanders have found a diamond in the rough (Howell has looked good during the preseason), but he’s obviously an unknown, and the team’s fallback plan is journeyman Jacoby Brissett. Also shaky along the line, this offense will hope to be bailed out by its terrific WR trio in Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson and Curtis Samuel (though McLaurin could miss some time to open the season while dealing with an injury).

They are projected to score 310 points, which would be an average of 18.2 points per game.

On the flip side, the Cardinals are projected to allow the second-most points in the league.

We will see which ends up being more true on Sunday.

But with the Commanders expected to be a struggling team offensively, this could give the Cardinals a chance to win.

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

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=2015]

QBs for Cardinals-Commanders have fewest combined starts in NFL in Week 1

Sam Howell and Josh Dobbs combine for three NFL starts. Neither is a rookie.

Week 1 for the Arizona Cardinals will feature an uninspiring quarterback matchup.

The Commanders named second-year pro Sam Howell their starter.

The Cardinals, while they will not announce their starters, are expected to have Josh Dobbs under center.

The two of them, despite not being rookies, combine for the fewest combined NFL starts of any quarterback matchups in the league in Week 1.

Dobbs has two career starts and Howell has one, giving them a combined three.

The next fewest combined starts for opposing quarterbacks in Week 1 are four when the Carolina Panthers send out rookie C.J Strout to make his NFL debut against the Atlanta Falcons and Desmond Ridder, who started four games in 2022.

Dobbs-Howell is not only the least-experienced opposing quarterback matchup, it is probably the least exciting.

Howell offers some intrigue, but Dobbs has been in the league since 2017 and his only two NFL starts were late last season for the Tennessee Titans.

This is likely a more inspiring matchup than when the Cardinals and Jets played each other long ago with Ryan Lindley and Greg McElroy at quarterback or the Cardinals playing the Panthers with a matchup of Tim Rattay and Vinny Testaverde, but it deserves mention for now, at least until Howell shows something in his career.

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

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1362]

Cardinals to play Commanders in front of sold-out stadium

The Commanders were last in attendance in 2022. They have sold out their season opener against the Cardinals.

The Arizona Cardinals are used to playing in front of sold-out crowds at State Farm Stadium. They will start the season on the road this season, facing the Washington Commanders.

The Commanders announced Friday that their home opener against the Cardinals is officially a sellout.

The Commanders were last in the league in attendance last season, averaging more than 51,000 fans per game.

They have new ownership following the forced sale by Dan Snyder.

They also announced $40 million in upgrades for the stadium.

There will certainly be extra energy in FedEx Field in the first game of a new season with new ownership.

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

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1362]

Commanders optimistic WR Terry McLaurin can play in Week 1 after toe injury

The Commanders’ top receiver suffered turf toe on Monday. The Cardinals face the Commanders in Week 1.

The Arizona Cardinals’ Week 1 opponent, the Washington Commaners, are dealing with an injury to arguably their best offensive weapon.

Wide receiver Terry McLaurin injured his toe on Monday in the Commanders’ preseason contest against the Baltimore Ravens.

The diagnosis is turf toe.

It is not overly serious, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

After having the MRI, things look pretty good.

According to Rapoport, the injury is more day-to-day than it is serious, and the team is optimistic that he will be able to play in Week 1 when the Cardinals face Washington on the road in Week 1.

McLaurin caught 77 passes for 1,191 yards and five touchdowns in 2023. He was selected to the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career.

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

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1362]