Tag: chase edmonds

Javonte Williams’ testing numbers strikingly similar to Chase Edmonds’

While considered a bigger more physical back, Williams and Edmonds are very similarly built and had similar testing numbers for the NFL draft.

Many Arizona Cardinals fans would like to see the team add a running back to complement Chase Edmonds, who is currently slated to be the starter in 2021. Many feel a bigger, potentially more physical runner would be a good fit.

Some look at North Carolina running back Javonte Williams as that guy.

After all look at this stat — no other running back in college football forced more missed tackles than the 76 he forced last season.

Seems like a good fit.

However, Williams’ and Edmonds’ physical traits and athletic are much more similar than you might think.

Here are the numbers from Williams’ pro day and Edmonds’ from the combine in 2018.

Height

Williams: 5-foot-9 5/8

Edmonds: 5-foot-9 1/8

Weight

Williams: 212 pounds

Edmonds: 205 pounds

Williams was listed at North Carolina at 220 pounds and Edmonds is now listed at 210.

40-yard dash

Williams: 4.55 seconds

Edmonds: 4.55 seconds

3-cone drill

Williams: 6.93 seconds

Edmonds: 6.79 seconds

20-yard short shuttle

Williams: 4.09 seconds

Edmonds: 4.07 seconds

Vertical leap

Williams: 36 inches

Edmonds: 34 inches

Broad jump

Williams: 10-3

Edmonds: 10-2

Bench press

Williams: 22 reps at 225 lbs.

Edmonds: 19 reps at 225 lbs.

While the tape might show two different types of runners, both backs are built similarly and are very similar athletically.

It is something to consider as we project who might be the best fit with Edmonds in the backfield.

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Cardinals prepared to give RB Chase Edmonds lead role in 2021

He is the only running back on the roster who has any carries in the NFL.

The Arizona Cardinals have not yet made any move in free agency at running back. Kenyan Drake has departed, signing with the Las Vegas Raiders and the Cardinals have made on additions.

The running backs left available are mostly role players and players whose production has begun slipping.

There is apparently a reason why the Cardinals have not been active at running back. They want to give Chase Edmonds the opportunity to be the lead back.

“I think Chase having this opportunity is going to be huge for him,” general manager Steve Keim said in a press conference last week. “I think he’s shown the ability to be an excellent back in this league with his quickness and his run style.”

Edmonds’ role grew last season into a key contributor on offense. He rushed for a career-high 448 yards and added 53 receptions for 402 yards and four touchdowns, giving him 850 total yards from scrimmage.

Head coach Kliff Kingsbury has said publicly on more than one occasion that he believes that Edmonds is a starting running back in the league.

He enters the offseason with that role. The only other backs on the roster currently are Eno Benjamin, Jonathan Ward and Khalfani Muhammad. There are exactly zero NFL rushing attempts between the three.

The Cardinals will surely add a back at some point in free agency but, based on who is left, Edmonds will be the clear No. 1 and, unless they draft a running back in the first or second round next month, Edmonds will be expected to carry the load in the running game.

The team believes he can. He will be given every opportunity to do so.

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Potential free agent target for Cardinals: RB Leonard Fournette

Leonard Fournette had a whirlwind postseason – could he be brought to the desert in free agency?

In a continuing look at some free agents the Arizona Cardinals could pursue, we look at a hot commodity in running back Leonard Fournette.

Obviously, the scenario in which they look at bringing in Fournette means that Kenyan Drake is gone — that he was likely too pricey for Arizona to keep. It seems a bit of a contradiction to suggest they may look at Fournette, as he could cost as much if not more than Drake, but there are a few reasons.

The main reason would be what Fournette could bring to the table that Drake did not — toughness between the tackles. There were a few times throughout the season where Drake needed a yard and struggled. This is where Fournette could excel, and did excel, in the playoffs this year for the Bucs.

There were unfortunately a few times where Arizona needed Drake to gain a yard this year, and he could not. This would seem to be less likely for a bigger back like Fournette.

The other area that perhaps Fournette could have an advantage over Drake is cost. Though Fournette had a great playoff run, he might not be considered a true three-down back, which shouldn’t bother Arizona with Chase Edmonds in tow. (Spotrac calculates Drake’s potential value at $8.3 Million per year and Fournette’s at $8.1 Million)

And perhaps this might work well for the Cards, giving more room to the up-and-coming Edmonds, provided that Fournette would be fine with yet another timeshare.

What do you think? Should Arizona consider signing Fournette and letting Kenyan Drake walk?

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9 under-the-radar free agent RBs who might fit for the Cardinals

These running backs would make nice complements to Chase Edmonds.

The Arizona Cardinals, if they do not re-sign Kenyan Drake, will likely look to free agency to sign a running back. The type of running back they sign will say a lot about what they think about Chase Edmonds, who enters his fourth season and has been one of the more dynamic offensive players on the team.

Head coach Kliff Kingsbury has been consistent about saying that he considers Edmonds a starting running back in the league. However, while he has been able to handle a full load in individual games, he has also dealt with injuries in games following the heavy workload.

The Cardinals could look to add a bell cow running back in free agency, but that will be expensive. What is more likely is a back who can share the load with Edmonds, giving Arizona a 1A and 1B at the position.

Here are some backs in free agency who could fit the profile.


Cardinals RB Chase Edmonds expecting exciting free agency in NFL

He expects players to mostly take one-year contracts while the salary cap is down.

Arizona Cardinals running back Chase Edmonds is not going to be a free agent this offseason but he expects things to be crazy when the new league year begins next month in the NFL. The Cardinals should be active.

But Edmonds anticipates that free agency will go differently than in years past. Because of the salary cap expected to go down as much as $23 million, there won’t be as much money to throw around, especially since so many teams are projected to be over the cap.

This is what Edmonds tweeted on Wednesday about next month.

He expects there to be a lot of players signing one-year deals and that players could be trying to load up on teams already favored to make the playoffs. Just how the Tampa Bay Buccaneers loaded up on veteran talent last season and ultimately won the Super Bowl, that could be a trend this offseason.

The Cardinals, who have quarterback Kyler Murray on his rookie contract, could be a team that tries to build its 2021 roster like that.

The window for teams to begin making contact with scheduled free agents in March 15. It won’t be long after that when we see the direction of free agency in the league this offseason.

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Cardinals 2020 player grades: Running back

We look back at the 2020 season and evaluate the play of the Cardinals’ running backs.

The Arizona Cardinals went through many ups and downs last season, and at their peak looked like one of the most formidable teams in the league. To get to where they were this season just two years removed from having the worst record in the NFL, they had to go through a lot of roster turnover.

In the second part of this series, we will be looking back at each player who recorded a snap for Arizona this season and grade their performance. Today we will be looking at the running backs. Players like rookie Eno Benjamin who did not take a snap will not be graded.


Cardinals positional needs and review: Running back

We break down the roster at the position and gauge the needs this offseason.

The Arizona Cardinals are in the offseason and are evaluating what to do to improve and address the roster in 2021.

Over the next several days, we will look at each position group, how it did in 2020, who is on the roster moving forward and what the Cardinals need at the position moving forward.

We have looked at the quarterback position already. We move on to running back.


Cardinals inactives: Larry Fitzgerald out, Chase Edmonds in vs. Rams

Jalen Thompson and Maxx Williams also make their return to the lineup.

The Arizona Cardinals will not have receiver Larry Fitzgerald or receiver Christian Kirk as they take on the Los Angeles Rams this afternoon. Kirk was placed on the COVID-19 list on Saturday and Fitzgerald was named among the Cardinals’ inactives.

They will, though, have running back Chase Edmonds.

Both Fitzgerald and Edmonds were questionable for the game with injuries.

Here is the full list of inactives:

  • QB Brett Hundley
  • RB Eno Benjamin
  • WR Larry Fitzgerald
  • CB Jace Whittaker
  • OL Lamont Gaillard
  • OL Josh Miles

With no Fitzgerald or Kirk in the lineup, the Cardinals will need Andy Isabella and KeeSean Johnson to step up.

The Cardinals do get a couple of players back into the lineup. Tight end Maxx Williams will suit up and safety Jalen Thompson returns after several weeks. His return will make up for the loss of Chris Banjo, who also was placed on the COVID list this weekend.

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Cardinals injury report: Larry Fitzgerald, Chase Edmonds are game-time decisions

No one was ruled out for the Cardinals as they get ready for their game against the Rams.

The Arizona Cardinals wrapped up the week of practice on Friday as they get ready for their Week 17 win-or-go-home game against the Los Angeles Rams. No one has been ruled out of the game.

On the final injury report of the week, five players are questionable.

Safety Budda Baker (neck), running back Chase Edmonds (hip) and receiver Larry Fitzgerald (groin) did not practice on Friday. Baker was a new addition to the injury report on Thursday. Head coach Kliff Kingsbury Baker was sore but he was hopeful about his being able to play.

Neither Fitzgerald nor Edmonds got any physical reps in practice. Kingsbury said both would be game-time decisions as far as whether they could play. It would be a surprise, considering what is at stake and what questions there are about the future, if Fitzgerald misses the game. Both would be mentally prepared.

Tight ends Maxx Williams (ankle) and Darrell Daniels (hamstring) are the other two listed as questionable. Daniels got limited work on Friday for the first time but also played in a similar situation last week, while Williams was limited Thursday and Friday. Both will likely play on Sunday, although with four tight ends on the roster, their roles might be lessened to keep them from getting further injured.

The rest of the players all practiced fully. Cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick and safety Jalen Thompson should both be back in the lineup. Kirkpatrick active but did not play in Week 16 and Thompson has not played since Week 11.

Ruled out:

  • None

Questionable:

  • TE Darrell Daniels (hamstring)
  • RB Chase Edmonds (hip)
  • S Budda Baker (neck)
  • WR Larry Fitzgerald (groin)
  • TE Maxx Williams (ankle)

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Cardinals injury report: Chase Edmonds, Larry Fitzgerald DNP; DeAndre Hopkins limited

Several players were upgraded and Budda Baker was added to the injury report.

The Arizona Cardinals released their second injury report of the week with a few changes. They only had three players sit out after eight did on Wednesday. However, receiver Larry Fitzgerald (groin) and running back Chase Edmonds (hip) were both unable to participate for the second day in a row. Fitzgerald did the same thing last week and still played but Edmonds’ injury comes from the game on Saturday so his status is more uncertain.

Tight end Darrell Daniels (hamstring) did not participate.

Receiver DeAndre Hopkins (hip), tight end Maxx Williams (ankle) and linebacker Haason Reddick (hip) were all upgraded on Thursday, all getting limited work on Thursday after sitting out Wednesday. Hopkins most certainly will play, as will Reddick, but the fact Williams was able to go is good news.

Safety Budda Baker (neck) was a new addition to the report on Thursday. He was limited. Hopefully, it is what Kliff Kingsbury calls “lingering soreness,” as Hopkins and other players haver had with their necks in previous weeks.

Cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick (hamstring, calf) was limited for the second day in a row, while tight end Dan Arnold (back) and running back Jonathan Ward (ankle) went from limited on Wednesday to full participation.

Quarterback Kyler Murray (leg) and safety Jalen Thompson (ankle) were full participants for the second day in a row. It appears Thompson will be back in the lineup after several weeks, which is good because Chris Banjo, who had been playing in Thompson’s place, landed on the COVID list Thursday.

Did not participate:

  • TE Darrell Daniels (hamstring)
  • RB Chase Edmonds (hip)
  • WR Larry Fitzgerald (groin)

Limited participation:

  • WR DeAndre Hopkins (hip)
  • S Budda Baker (neck)
  • TE Maxx Williams (ankle)
  • LB Haason Reddick (hip)
  • CB Dre Kirkpatrick (hamstring, calf)

Full participation:

  • QB Kyler Murray (leg)
  • TE Dan Arnold (back)
  • RB Jonathan Ward (ankle)
  • DT Domata Peko (Wednesday day off)
  • S Jalen Thompson (ankle)

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