A few Cardinals players have individual milestones they can reach in the game on Sunday against the Seahawks.
The Arizona Cardinals will seek a win over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday in Seattle. It would snap their three-game losing streak this season. It would be their first road win of the season. It would snap a three-game losing streak against the Seahawks.
But within the team milestones, individual players have notable career milestones in reach in the game.
Zach Ertz, James Conner, Michael Wilson, Dennis Gardeck and Matt Prater can all achieve team or franchise personal milestones.
The Arizona Cardinals seek their second win of the season at home against the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday afternoon. It would be their third consecutive win over the Bengals and would send Cincinnati to a 1-4 start.
The Cardinals have a few player milestones and accomplishments in reach in their Week 5 matchup.
Zach Ertz, Matt Prater, James Conner and Dennis Gardeck all have individual milestones in reach in Week 4 against the 49ers.
The Arizona Cardinals seek a second consecutive win this season as they face the San Francisco 49ers in Week 4 on the road. A win is the ultimate goal but there are some player milestones for some Cardinals players they can hit in the matchup.
Dennis Gardeck had a strip sack and Cameron Thomas got the scoop-and-score.
The Arizona Cardinals’ first touchdown of the 2023 season did not come from running back James Conner, tight end Zach Ertz or any receiver. It was scored by the defense.
In the second quarter against the Washington Commanders, Dennis Gardeck sacked quarterback Sam Howell for the second time of the half and knocked the ball out.
Second-year linebacker Cameron Thomas scooped up the ball and dove two yards to get into the end zone.
The Cardinals forced three turnovers in the first half of the game and led 13-10 at the half. Watch the play below!
The Arizona Cardinals named their 2023 captains. Kyler Murray and Budda Baker are among those who are captains for the fourth straight year.
The Arizona Cardinals named their captains for the 2023 season and had a “bonus” practice to prepare for their season opener on the road against the Washington Commanders.
Five of the six players return from last season. One is a newcomer but is no surprise. Three are offensive players, two are presumably defensive captains and one is for special teams, although he also plays defense.
Myjai Sanders, one of the Cardinals’ two third-round pass rushers, has high praise for Gardeck.
The Arizona Cardinals have to remake their outside linebacker room this year because of the departure of Chandler Jones in free agency. Markus Golden returns on one side, but the room is made up mostly by guys trying to reestablish themselves as pass rushers or by guys trying to make a name for the first time.
One player trying to make a name for himself is rookie Myjai Sanders and one trying reestablish himself is Dennis Gardeck.
Gardeck had seven sacks in 2020 in only 93 defensive snaps before tearing his ACL. Sanders was a third-round pick who has flashed some potential.
Sanders says Gardeck has been very helpful and he even compared him to one of the best pass rushers we have seen in recent history,
He referred to Von Miller when describing Gardeck’s play.
“It’s just How fluid he is with what he does,” Sanders told reporters Tuesday. “He never wastes a step. He’s always going forward. Everything he does is intentional. He’s really precise about what move he’s going to throw, and it starts in the meeting room. He always says what he’s going to do before we get on the field, and he actually does it.”
Gardeck is undersized as an edge rusher at 6-0 and 232 lbs. He did not have a sack in 2021 after his seven in 2020.
He will have an expanded role this coming season.
But Sanders says he hasn’t seen anyone with the same pass-rushing force and ability, “not since Von Miller,” who has 115.5 career sacks in 11 seasons.
Perhaps it isn’t an apt comparison. Miller is longer and more athletic, but he does have great technique.
But for a rookie to even mention one of the greats of this generation with a player like Gardeck, it shows just how much respect the veteran has had on Sanders and the impact he has had in his early development.
Dennis Gardeck has worn No. 45 since 2020. See him and others to wear No. 45 for the Cardinals before him.
As the Arizona Cardinals continue the start of training camp with their second practice on Thursday, we are 45 days away from the start of their regular season. They will take the field at State Fam Stadium in Week 1 against the Kansas City Chiefs.
No. 45 belongs to outside linebacker and special teams stud Dennis Gardeck. It wasn’t always his number as he started his career with No. 92 and then went to No. 42. He and others to wear No. 45 are below.
If the Cardinals can get a combined 14 sacks from Devon Kennard, Dennis Gardeck, Cameron Thomas and Myjai Sanders, they will be fine.
One of the major questions facing the Arizona Cardinals this season is how they will replace Chandler Jones, who signed with the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency. Jones had 10.5 sacks last season and is the franchise’s all-time leader in sacks.
They did not add another proven pass rusher to replace him.
They have Markus Golden and his team-leading 11 sacks last season but then a committee of players to play opposite him.
They have veteran Devon Kennard, who has not produced the way anyone hoped he would in his first two seasons with the team. He is now slated to start as the base outside linebacker. He had three sacks in 2020 but none last season.
Next is Dennis Gardeck, who had seven sacks in 93 snaps in 2020 but none last year in his return from a torn ACL.
They drafted Cameron Thomas and Myjai Sanders in the third round this year. Thomas was one of the nation’s most productive pass rushers and Sanders, while he lacked sacks, created a lot of pressure.
While it would be unfair to expect any individual player to replace Jones in terms of impact on the defense, the Cardinals are counting on the whole of that group to be able to replace his production.
Jones had 10.5 sacks last season but only 5.5 after Week 1.
If the four players combine for 14 sacks in 2022 with Golden producing double digits, the Cardinals will be in great shape.
That 14 could be Thomas getting five with Kennard, Gardeck and Sanders each getting three.
Plus, if the defensive interior of J.J. Watt and Zach Allen each increase their sack production in 2022, the Cardinals’ pass rush will be just fine.
