Eagles Wire managing editor Glenn Erby takes us “behind enemy lines” to know more about the Eagles, the Cardinals’ Week 5 opponent.
The Arizona Cardinals have a tough matchup Sunday afternoon at State Farm Stadium as they face the Philadelphia Eagles, the only undefeated team left in the NFL. Philly has an offense that is humming, averaging more than 28 points per game, and a defense that has 16 sacks and 10 takeaways.
To get to know the Eagles a little better, we went behind enemy lines to get some insight from Eagles Wire managing editor Glenn Erby. he answered a few questions about the Cardinals’ Week 5 opponent.
Coming back from a hip/groin injury, it is feared that Wesley has torn his quadriceps and that his season could be over.
It appeared that the Arizona Cardinals were going to get wide receiver Antoine Wesley back after missing the first four weeks of the season. He had a groin/hip injury that landed him on injured reserve.
Now, after being designated to return and practicing this week, he apparently has a new injury and it could cost him the rest of the season.
Since he has already been designated to return, the three-week window to be reactivated has already opened. If he is unable to come back by the end of the three weeks, he will remain on IR for the remainder of the season.
Wesley had 19 receptions last season for 208 yards and three touchdowns. There was optimism he would be able to expand his role this season and was having a good offseason and beginning of training camp before his injury.
This injury is yet another setback a wide receiver room that has taken several hits this season.
At minimum, he is surely not going to be reinstated to the roster to play against the Philadelphia Eagles this Sunday. His season might be over before it even begins.
Check out the Eagles’ first injury report as they get ready to play the Cardinals.
The Philadelphia Eagles released their first injury report of the week Wednesday as they prepare for their Week 5 matchup with the Arizona Cardinals. They did not practice. Instead, they held a walkthrough.
Their first injury report of the week includes eight players and is based on what participation would have been had they held a full practice.
The Cardinals could get reinforcements on offense and defense this week to face the undefeated Eagles.
The Arizona Cardinals could get some reinforcements this week when they take on the undefeated Philadelphia Eagles this coming Sunday afternoon at State Farm Stadium.
The team announced it has designated three players to return from injured reserve, allowing them to start practicing. It opens a 21-day window in which they can be activated and retake their place on the 53-man roster.
They designated receiver Antoine Wesley and quarterback Colt McCoy to return from injured reserve and designated cornerback Antonio Hamilton to return from the NFI (non-football injury) list.
Wesley suffered a hip/groin injury back in training camp and has not yet played this season. McCoy had a calf injury and Hamilton suffered serious burns in a cooking accident at home.
Head coach Kliff Kingsbury said last week that it might be a little much to expect Hamilton back this week. At the very least, they can see how he looks in practice.
McCoy and Wesley are likely candidates to be activated this week. Wesley’s return will be welcome, especially if A.J. Green is still sidelined with a bone bruise in his knee.
Teams are able to designate up to eight players to return from injured reserve, NFI or the practice squad injured reserve in a season.
After missing three weeks with a hamstring injury, Moore sounds like a man set on making his 2022 debut against the Panthers.
The Arizona Cardinals have taken a hit at wide receiver early this season. DeAndre Hopkins is serving a six-game suspension for testing positive for a banned performance-enhancing substance. Antoine Wesley is on injured reserve for at least one more game. Rondale Moore has missed the first three games of the season with a hamstring injury. A.J. Green has a bone bruise in his knee that is expected to keep him out of this week’s game.
But Moore could be returning this week. He has practiced on a limited for two straight days and he sounds like a player ready to play.
“I’m excited to be back, healthy and ready to compete,” he said.
His return would be a big boost, especially as Green is likely out. Without Green and if Moore can’t return, it leaves only Marquise Brown, Greg Dortch, Andy Isabella and Andre Baccellia as the only healthy receivers on the roster.
If Moore returns, it will give the Cardinals elite speed on the outside on both sides.
His role could be limited. Head coach Kliff Kingsbury said they would “be smart” with his usage.
The Cardinals and Panthers kick off Sunday at 1:05 p.m. Arizona time.
Banjo played for the Cardinals from 2019-2021, mostly on special teams. The Cardinals only have two safeties on the active roster.
As was expected after a visit on Wednesday, the Arizona Cardinals have made it official and have signed safety Chris Banjo. The team announced Thursday that he was signed to the practice squad, adding safety depth to the team.
As things stand right now, the Cardinals only have two safeties on the active roster — Budda Baker and Jalen Thompson — after Deionte Thompson was released to allow for linebacker Jesse Luketa to be signed to the 53-man roster.
Banjo will likely be elevated to the active roster Saturday to play on Sunday.
Banjo played the last three seasons for the Cardinals, appearing in 42 games, starting four. He had 67 tackles and a pass breakup.
He has been in the league since 2013, entering with the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted rookie out of SMU. He played for the Packers and Saints before the Cardinals signed him in 2019.
As he did in previous seasons, he will wear No. 31.
The Cardinals could be down another receiver in Week 4.
The Arizona Cardinals already have been dealing depth issues at wide receiver. The depth could take another hit this week.
A.J. Green, who exited Sunday’s 20-12 loss to the Los Angeles Rams with a knee injury, could miss this week’s game against the Carolina Panthers.
Head coach Kliff Kingsbury, speaking to reporters Monday, indicated there is some concern he will miss time, although the news was fairly good.
“I’m not sure exactly where it sits,” he said. “It sounds like it’s better news. It’s a bone bruise, but I’m not sure if that’s going to be this week or maybe next week when he is back.”
The Cardinals are already missing DeAndre Hopkins. suspended the first six games of the season for testing positive for a banned performance-enhancing substance, Antoine Wesley, who is on injured reserve at least one more week, and Rondale Moore, who has missed three weeks with a hamstring injury.
They take on the Carolina Panthers Sunday at 1:05 p.m. Arizona time.
Check back often to know what is happening in this Week 3 matchup.
The Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Rams face off in Week 3 at State Farm Stadium. The Cardinals have not beaten the Rams at home since 2014 and have lost 10 of the last 11 meetings overall, including an embarrassing loss in the playoffs last year.
Both teams are coming off wins in Week 2 following a Week 1 blowout loss.
The Rams are missing several players in their secondary and the Cardinals are without two of their starting receivers.
How will this game play out?
We will update this space below with live updates during the game.
It appears the Rams will have two backups starting on the offensive line and their No. 2 CB was just placed on IR.
The Arizona Cardinals have had to deal with injury issues in the secondary and on the offensive line early this season. They are coming out of that and now their Week 3 opponent, the Los Angeles Rams, are facing injuries on their offensive line and secondary.
No. 2 cornerback Troy Hill was just placed on injured reserve. He will not play.
David Long, normally the Rams’ No. 3 and slot cornerback, started the week limited in practice. Rookie Cobie Durant did not practice Wednesday.
On the offensive line, starting center Brian Allen missed the Rams’ Week 2 game and missed practice Wednesday. If he can’t start, Coleman Shelton will start. Shelton was the Rams’ starting right guard in Week 1.
Tremayne Anchrum, who started at right guard Sunday, played only two snaps before breaking his ankle. His season is over.
They already are having to adjust to an offensive line without left tackle Andrew Whitworth, who retired after last season. Joe Noteboom starts now but has dealt with a knee injury as well.
Oday Aboushi, signed from the practice squad to the active roster this week, could end up starting at right guard this week.
With their depth challenged up front and in the secondary, the Cardinals have an opportunity to take advantage of a Rams squad that is not at full strength.
The Cardinals looked lost on both sides of the ball in the first half against the Raiders. They flipped the switch after halftime.
The Arizona Cardinals trailed the Las Vegas Raiders 20-0 and looked like they were on their way to a second consecutive blowout loss. There were fears of what this team was going to be this season after an 0-2 start.
They looked bad both on offense and on defense, and then suddenly things changed.
After being unable to move the ball or get stops, they were able to do both.
Then, they made clutch big plays, forced overtime and then got the game-winning defensive touchdown to complete the comeback and win the game.
The numbers were crazy.
First-half vs. second-half offensive numbers
In the first half, the Cardinals ran 19 offensive plays and had 86 total yards of offense. They had five first downs.
Quarterback Kyler Murray was 6-for-9 passing for 53 yards and an interception.
They went 1-for-4 on third down.
In the second half, it was like a switch flipped.
After halftime and up until regulation, they had 284 yards of offense on 51 offensive plays. They rushed for 96 yards. Murray went 20-for-34 passing for 188 yards and a touchdown pass.
Then, in overtime, they added another 43 yards.
After an 86-yard first half, they rolled up 327 yards of offense between the second half and overtime. Murray had 224 passing yards, 28 rushing yards, a passing touchdown and a rushing touchdown. He threw for a two-point conversion and ran for another.
But the turnaround wasn’t just on offense.
First-half vs. second-half defensive numbers
In the first half, the defense allowed 258 yards and 20 points. The Raiders had 15 first downs and were 5-of-6 on third down. They did not punt.
In the second half in regulation, they held the Raiders to 48 yards and three points. The Raiders did not convert on a third down. They had only 18 offensive plays from halftime to overtime.
In overtime, they allowed 18 yards and a third-down conversion but then took the ball away.
From 258 yards and 20 points allowed in the first half to 66 yards and three points in the second half and overtime, the defense finally clicked.
If both the offense and defense can look something similar to that starting at the beginning of a game, then the Cardinals will be back on track to doing what they expected to do.
