Cardinals offseason positional outlook: RB

We break down the situation for the Cardinals this offseason at running back.

The Arizona Cardinals enter the offseason with important issues to address at running back. There are contract questions, free agent questions and questions as to what the Cardinals will value in coach Kliff Kingsbury’s offense.

Let’s break down the offseason at the position.

2019 review

The season began with David Johnson expected to be the focal point of the offense. It was believed he could have similar success to that he had in 2016.

He was both effective and also underused as the season began. In Week 1, he had 82 yards on 18 carries. In Week 5, he had 91 yards on 17 carries. However, he never got more than 12 rushing attempts in the other four of the first six games. He made plays catching the ball, though, and was 10th in the league in yards from scrimmage at that point.

Then he got hurt. He battled a pair of injuries and missed a couple of games, but once the injuries came, things changed. After Week 6, he only had 18 carries the rest of the season.

Chase Edmonds stepped in against the New York Giants and had a huge game — 126 yards and three touchdowns but then got hurt the next week.

That led to the trade to acquire Kenyan Drake, who immediately earned the trust of Kingsbury and became the No. 1 back overnight. He rushed for 110 yards after being with the team three days. He was okay the next few weeks and then finished the season with 263 rushing yards and seven touchdowns in the final three games.

In eight games, he led the team in rushing for the season with 643 yards and eight touchdowns.

So now what?

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Cardinals injury report: RB Chase Edmonds practices fully on Thursday

Only Jonathan Bullard is limited in the Cardinals’ Thanksgiving practice.

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The Arizona Cardinals’ Thanksgiving Day practice brought better news in terms of the team’s health. They released their second injury report and a positive report was made even better.

On Wednesday, only two players were limited by injury. On Thursday, only one was limited, while the rest of the team practiced fully.

Most notably, running back Chase Edmonds was upgraded. Limited with his hamstring injury on Wednesday, he was a full participant on Thursday. DT Corey Peters, WR Larry Fitzgerald, LB Terrell Suggs and LB Chandler Jones, all of whom had part or all of Wednesday off for rest, were full participants on Thursday.

The only player to not practice fully was DL Jonathan Bullard, who is still recovering from a foot injury.

When the Cardinals host the L.A. Rams this weekend, they might be able to have an inactive list of healthy scratches.

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

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Kenyan Drake officially passes David Johnson on Cardinals’ depth chart

He was previously listed as the third-string running back behind Johnson and Chase Edmonds.

The Arizona Cardinals made a change on their offensive depth chart and put it in writing. Running back David Johnson is no longer the team’s starting running back.

With injuries and ineffectiveness, he has seen his playing time dwindle. He played only nine first-half snaps in the team’s last game two weekends ago and had zero touches in the running game or targets in the passing game.

Kenyan Drake was getting the bulk of the playing time.

Now that change is reflected on the latest depth chart released by the team.

Previously, Drake was listed as the team’s third-string back behind both Johnson and Chase Edmonds.

In the depth chart released by the team this week, Drake is now No. 1 and Johnson is No. 2. Edmonds is third behind them.

Edmonds is expected to return from a hamstring injury that has kept him out of the last three games. This weekend against the Los Angeles Rams, it will be the first time the Cardinals have had all three players healthy and able to play.

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

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Cardinals injury report: Chase Edmonds, Jonathan Bullard limited on Wednesday

Three players sat out but none were because of any injury.

The Arizona Cardinals practiced on Wednesday and released their first injury report of the week. Three players sat out but none were because of injuries. The Cardinals are actually quite healthy.

Injuries limited two players and that was it.

Did not practice

WR Larry Fitzgerald (day off)
LB Terrell Suggs (day off)
LB Chandler Jones (day off)

These three just got the day off. They normally sit out of practice on Wednesdays.

Limited

DT Corey Peters (day off)
RB Chase Edmonds (hamstring)
DL Jonathan Bullard (foot)

Edmonds was unable to play the last three weeks with the injury. He is expected to play this weekend. Bullard missed the team’s last game with his injury.

Rookie offensive lineman Lamont Gaillard was also listed on the injury report with a thumb injury. He practiced fully on Wednesday.

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

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RB Chase Edmonds expected to play for Cardinals vs. Rams

He missed three games with a hamstring injury.

The Arizona Cardinals plan on having a completely healthy running back room in Week 13. After having at least one injured running back for each of the last five games, they should have David Johnson, Chase Edmonds and Kenyan Drake all healthy and ready to suit up when they take the field at home against the Los Angeles Rams.

Edmonds suffered a hamstring against the New Orleans Saints and missed three games. He is set to return this weekend, according to head coach Kliff Kingsbury.

He was back at practice on Monday.

“He looked good today,” Kingsbury told reporters Monday. “He feels good. He has worked really hard to be back.”

He expects Edmonds to play. “Hopefully we can get him back going.”

Edmonds saw his role increase week by week earlier in the season and then rushed for 126 yards and three touchdowns against the New York Giants when David Johnson’s ankle bothered him.

He has four rushing touchdowns this season, all at least 20 yards in length.

The next question for the team is how they will utilize all three backs or whether they will be able to use all three. “It’s a good problem to have, to have three very talented running backs,” said Kingsbury.

Edmonds isn’t worried. If the Cardinals can get the number of snaps up to where they would like, he believes there is playing time for all three.

If not, he believes it will work.

“It’ll be fine, man,” he said, according to the team site’s Kyle Odegard.
“We’re all talented. We’re all selfless. It’s not going to be a problem at all.”

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

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Final Cardinals injury report: RB Chase Edmonds, DL Jonathan Bullard ruled out

The defensive secondary is expected to be at full strength, while the defensive line will have a new starter.

The Arizona Cardinals wrapped up their final day of practice on Friday and released their final injury report of the week. Only two players were ruled out.

Out

RB Chase Edmonds (hamstring)
DL Jonathan Bullard (foot)

Both players missed practice all week. With Edmonds out, Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury plans on using both David Johnson and Kenyan Drake as a committee of backs. Bullard has been starting since Zach Allen got hurt. With Bullard out, Zach Kerr will start and rookies Michael Dogbe and Miles Brown will rotate in.

Questionable

CB Tramaine Brock (hamstring)
DL Zach Kerr (knee)
OL Justin Murray (knee)
LB Terrell Suggs (back, hamstring)

Brock was a full participant in practice Friday after being limited the first two practices of the week. This suggests he will be back in the lineup. With Patrick Peterson expected to play, the Cardinals will be at full strength in the defensive secondary.

Kerr is expected to play. Murray is still considered day-to-day. Kingsbury would not say whether Murray will return the starting lineup, even if he is able to play, or if Justin Pugh will continue to play right tackle.

Suggs will be a game-day decision, although he has not missed a game this season despite missing a ton of practice time. He did not practice at all this week.

Linebacker tight end Maxx Williams (illness), defensive lineman Rodney Gunter (calf) and cornerback Patrick Peterson (calf) all were full participants in practice after being limited for two days.

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

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