Tag: cardinals vs rams

What’s the Cardinals’ plan at RT following Jonah Williams’ knee injury?

A look at what the Cardinals are doing to address the absence of right tackle Jonah Williams for the foreseeable future.

The Arizona Cardinals got one quarter from right tackle Jonah Williams before he suffered a knee injury Sunday against the Buffalo Bills and has been placed on injured reserve. That will require him to miss at least the next four games of the season.

That left the Cardinals likely looking for another tackle, which occurred when five-year veteran Charlie Heck was signed to the practice squad Wednesday morning. He and rookie Brian Dooley had tryouts Tuesday.

Before practice Wednesday, head coach Jonathan Gannon said, “Not gonna speculate about the time when he’s gonna get back; what that looks like. So, gathering more information about that.”

Asked if surgery will happen, Gannon said, “Not sure yet.”

The only backup tackle currently on the 53-man roster is 13-year veteran Kelvin Beachum, who replaced Williams on Sunday. The other backups are all centers or guards: Trystan Colon, Jon Gaines II and rookie Isaiah Adams. Rookie tackle Christian Jones is on injured reserve and will be out at least another three games.

Jackson Barton, Luke Tenuta and Heck are now on the practice squad.

Asked about the backup situation, Gannon said, “We feel good about the plan moving forward.”

Gannon acknowledged it’s good to have Beachum’s experience available to fill Williams’ spot.

“Anyone that goes into the game we feel good about, but there is a comfort level with Beach being the vet that he is and how many games he’s played.”

What about the disappointment with getting only one quarter from Williams, who was signed to a two-year, $30 million contract as an unrestricted free agent in the offseason? Gannon said, “That’s life in the NFL. (We’ll) figure out a plan and go to work.”

The Cardinals also signed edge rusher Julian Okwara to the active roster from the practice squad to which he was signed Aug. 28 after being released by the Philadelphia Eagles in the cut 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.

 

Cardinals RT Jonah Williams to miss time with knee injury

Williams injured his right knee on the final play of the first quarter on Sunday. He could be out a while, according to Jeremy Fowler.

The Arizona Cardinals will have to make some adjustments with their plan for the offensive line. Starting right tackle Jonah Williams injured his right knee on the final play of the first quarter in the Cardinals’ 34-28 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday and was unable to return.

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Williams will miss some time, although the length he could be out and the severity of the injury are still being worked through.

Behind Williams, the only tackle on the active roster is Kelvin Beachum, who finished the game and had some struggles. At 35 years of age and with 149 career starts under his belt, he certainly isn’t out of his depth.

But while the level of play from Williams to Beachum is a drop, the Cardinals now have a concerning lack of depth at tackle.

Williams signed a two-year deal with the Cardinals in March. It sounds like he could land on injured reserve, where he would have to remain for at least four games.

We will hopefully found out in the next few days how much time Williams could be out and how the Cardinals handle his absence.

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.

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After visit, veteran DL Angelo Blackson signed to Cardinals practice squad

Blackson had a reported visit Monday. It is his second stint with the Cardinals.

Following a visit Monday reported by Cards Wire, defensive lineman Angelo Blackson was signed to the Cardinals practice squad Tuesday.

To make room for him on the 17-player group, Tyler Manoa was released. Manoa was signed to the practice squad last Thursday (Sept. 5).

A fourth-round pick of the Titans in 2015, Blackson (6-4, 318) has played for Tennessee, Houston, Chicago and Jacksonville in addition to the Cardinals in 2020.

That season, he played 16 games with nine starts and had 2.5 sacks, 24 tackles (15 solo), four tackles for loss and eight quarterback hits.

Last season, he played 11 games for the Jaguars and had 13 tackles (eight solo) with two for loss and three forced fumbles.

He signed with the Broncos as an unrestricted free agent this past April, but was released Aug. 26.

In his career, Blackson has played 128 games with 42 starts and has 179 tackles (106 solo) with 17 for loss and 27 quarterback hits. He will be 32 on Nov. 14.

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.

 

Rams OL decimated by injuries entering Week 2 contest vs. Cardinals

Four of the five expected starters are either suspended or dealing with injuries.

The Arizona Cardinals are dealing with one injury on the offensive line as right tackle Jonah Williams exited the season opener with a knee injury in the first half.

The Cardinals’ next opponent, the Los Angeles Rams, have a number of offensive linemen with injuries.

They already are placing receiver Puka Nacua on injured reserve with a PCL sprain so he will miss the game on Sunday at State Farm Stadium.

Two linemen could join him on injured reserve.

Starting left guard Steve Avila has an MCL injury and is likely to land on injured reserve.

Joe Noteboom, who started at left tackle in placed of the suspended Alaric Jackson (he is suspended through this week and will miss the game), suffered a high ankle sprain and will miss multiple weeks, which will include the game on Sunday against the Cardinals.

Starting right guard Kevin Dotson suffered a sprained ankle and left the locker room in a walking boot. He is considered day-to-day.

Starting right tackle Rob Havenstein missed the opener with an ankle injury. He is also day-to-day.

So the only current original starter on the line is Jonah Jackson, who is now starting at center for the first time in his career.

Warren McClendon started at right tackle. He could move to left tackle if Havenstein returns this week.

The first injury report of the week will come out on Wednesday.

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.

 

Puka Nacua out for Rams vs. Cardinals, to go on IR with knee injury

The Cardinals will face the Rams on Sunday without Puka Nacua, who lands on IR with a knee injury.

The Arizona Cardinals’ next opponent are the Los Angeles Rams in their home opener this coming Sunday. They will not face second-year receiver Puka Nacua. Nacua exited the Rams’ 26-20 overtime loss on Sunday to the Detroit Lions with a knee injury.

Rams head coach Sean McVay told reporters that Nacua suffered a PCL sprain, a reaggravation of what he was dealing with in the offseason. He is being placed on injured reserve, which means he must miss at least the next four games, beginning with the game against the Cardinals.

Nacua was the Rams’ leading receiver in 2023 as a rookie, hauling in 105 receptions for 1,486 yards and six touchdowns. He had four catches for 35 yards on Sunday.

Last season against the Cardinals, he had eight receptions for 53 yards in two games.

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.

 

PODCAST: 2024 Cardinals opponent preview – What did the Rams do this offseason?

Cam DaSilva joins Jess Root on the podcast to talk about the Cardinals’ Week 2 and Week 17 opponent, the L.A. Rams, and what they did.

The 14 shows in 14 days on the podcast to preview the Arizona Cardinals’ 14 opponents in 2024 continue. This is Day 2 of the shows and is all about the Arizona Cardinals’ opponent in Week 2 and Week 17 — the Los Angeles Rams.

Joining me on the show was Rams Wire managing editor Cam DaSilva. We went over the Rams’ surprising 2023 season, covered their offseason moves and discussed expectations for the 2024 season.

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 Rams’ 2023 season

(13:13) The Rams’ offseason moves in free agency and the draft

(31:45) Expectations for the Rams in 2024

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Rams’ Kyren Williams becomes 3rd Offensive Player of the Week vs. Cardinals

Kyren Williams, Ja’Marr Chase and Christian McCaffrey all earned offensive player of the week honors after playing the Cardinals.

In the Arizona Cardinals’ 37-14 loss on Sunday to the Los Angeles Rams, they gave up more than 200 total yards and two touchdowns to running back Kyren Williams.

Williams’ performance was good enough to earn NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors for Week 12. In the Rams’ win, he had 16 rushing attempts for 143 yards, averaging 8.9 yards per carry. He also caught a team-high six passes for 61 yards and two touchdowns for a total of 204 total yards from scrimmage.

It was his first game since going on injured reserve with an ankle injury. In his previous game, he rushed for 158 yards and a touchdown in Week 6, also against the Cardinals, but he was passed over for player of the week honors for Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff.

It is the third time this season a player was named conference offensive player of the week for a performance against the Cardinals.

49ers running back Christian McCaffrey won it after Week 4 after gaining 177 total yards from scrimmage with three touchdowns against Arizona.

That was followed up the next week by Cincinnati Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase, who won AFC honors after he caught 15 passes for 192 yards and three touchdowns in a 34-20 win over the Cardinals in Week 5.

Rams’ Kyren Williams leads Week 12 conference players of the week for play vs. Cardinals

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

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Rams’ Kyren Williams leads Week 12 conference players of the week for play vs. Cardinals

Williams had more than 200 total yards and scored two touchdowns for the Rams in a win over the Cardinals.

The NFL announced conference players of the week for Week 12 on Wednesday. It was no surprise that Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week.

In a 37-14 win over the Arizona Cardinals and in his first game off of injured reserve, Williams scored two touchdowns and gained 204 total yards from scrimmage. He had 16 rushing attempts for 143 yards, averaging 8.9 yards per carry, and added a team-high six receptions for 61 yards and both his touchdowns.

Check out all the Week 12 players of the week for both the NFC and AFC below.

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

 

PODCAST: What went wrong for Cardinals vs. Rams?

Jess Root and Seth Cox break down and react to the Cardinals’ most recent loss on the latest edition of the podcast.

The Arizona Cardinals were blown out by the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. It was a bad showing from both sides of the ball in the 37-14 defeat.

Revenge of the Birds’ Seth Cox and I recorded the podcast a day earlier than normal and talk all about it. What exactly went wrong? We also discuss Kyler Murray’s play, a crazy conspiracy I heard, Marco Wilson’s benching and whether there was anything positive to take from the loss.

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!

Times and topics:

(1:00) What went wrong against the Rams?

(11:06) Kyler Murray’s play and a conspiracy??

(28:35) Marco Wilson’s benching

(37:13) Was there anything positive?

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LB Jesse Luketa got help from fans to get to stadium after flat tire

Luketa had to get a ride with a family of Cardinals fans to the stadium on Sunday.

Arizona Cardinals linebacker Jesse Luketa played three snaps on defense and 25 on special teams in the team’s 37-14 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. There were doubts about whether he would even make it to the stadium.

As he explained on Monday to reporters, Luketa left the team hotel reasonably early enough to make it to State Farm Stadium well before he needed to for the game.

He got a notification of a tire issue and thought he could get it to a gas station for some air but instead ended up having to pull over. He was 30 minutes away still.

Not knowing what else to do, he saw a family that appeared to be going to the stadium in Cardinals gear.

He flagged them down, told the father he was a player and needed a ride. The guy wasn’t sure but spoke with his wife and agreed to do it.

Luketa made it on time, took pictures with the family and kids and said he took care of their tickets to the Cardinals’ next home game against the San Francisco 49ers.

Head coach Jonathan Gannon said the team also got the family an A-Lot parking pass as well.

This is fantastic story for all involved. The family got to hang out with a Cardinals player and Luketa got help.

He apparently has had tire troubles frequently, saying he has had it happen “four or five times.”

This might have been the one positive thing to come out of the Cardinals’ game on Sunday.

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

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