Tag: Myjai Sanders

AFC Divisional Round picks: Who the experts are taking in Ravens vs. Texans

The NFL experts have made their picks, and the Baltimore Ravens are favored to defeat the Houston Texans in the AFC Divisional Round

We’re a little over 30 hours away from the Ravens (13-4) and Texans (11-7) kicking off the AFC divisional round of the playoffs on ESPN.

Houston advanced to the Divisional round of the NFL playoffs for the fifth time in franchise history with a 45-14 win over the Browns in Super Wild Card Weekend.

The playoff win earned the Texans a rematch against the Ravens, and they’ll return to M&T Bank Stadium hoping to avenge a 25-9 loss in Week 1.

With kickoff fast approaching, here’s the NFL expert picks.

Ravens divisional round preview: 10 things to know about the Houston Texans

We’re looking at ten things to know about the Houston Texans ahead of their AFC Divisional Round matchup against the Baltimore Ravens

The Texans advanced to the Divisional round of the NFL playoffs for the fifth time in franchise history with a 45-14 win over the Browns in Super Wild Card Weekend.

The playoff success earned Houston a rematch against the Baltimore Ravens, and they’ll return to M&T Bank Stadium hoping to avenge a 25-9 loss in Week 1.

The Texans are a different team since that humble welcome to the NFL moment for C.J. Stroud, and all the former Ohio State star has done is shatter records and lead his team to the postseason as a rookie.

With final preparations for Saturday’s kickoff underway, we’re looking at ten things about the Houston Texans.

DeMeco Ryans ‘excited’ to add Myjai Sanders to the Texans

Houston Texans coach DeMeco Ryans is intrigued by the possibilities Myjai Sanders brings to the defense.

DeMeco Ryans had seen enough from Myjai Sanders.

The former Arizona Cardinals 2022 third-round defensive end played 39 snaps over the course of two games against the San Francisco 49ers last season. The 6-5, 248-pound edge defender generated five combined tackles and a tackle for loss against their NFC West rivals, where Ryans was finishing out his stint as defensive coordinator.

Arizona placed Sanders on injured reserve to start the 2023 campaign, and eventually released the 25-year-old on Oct. 17. The Texans claimed Sanders the next off waivers.

“He was a young pass rusher we wanted to add,” Ryans said. “Feel like giving him another chance here to see what he can bring to our unit.”

Sanders also has familiarity with Texans defensive coordinator Matt Burke, who was the defensive line coach for the Cardinals last season. The Texans not only have staff who know Sanders, but can also project how he can fit in with Houston’s objectives.

Said Ryans: “His first day was out there was today, so we’ll see throughout the week how Myjai gets adjusted to what we do, but I really liked Myjai coming out of college, and liked what he’s done last year in Arizona. I thought he was effective in getting after the quarterback, so I’m excited to add him to our team.”

Sanders produced 23 combined tackles, 3.0 sacks, three tackles for loss, five quarterback hits, three pass breakups, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery through 13 games last year, four of which he started.

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Cardinals release LB Myjai Sanders

Sanders never got to play a single down under new head coach Jonathan Gannon.

The Arizona Cardinals announced a roster move on Tuesday. Nearly a week after being designated to return from injured reserve, second-year linebacker Myjai Sanders was waived.

Sanders did not play a game this season.

Drafted in the third round last year, he had three sacks as a rookie in 13 games.

He injured his thumb in training camp, never played in the preseason and them was placed on injured reserve after making the active roster initially.

However, with six outside linebackers ahead of him the coaching staff likes, the Cardinals released him from injured reserve.

As suggested by ESPN’s Adam Schefter earlier on Tuesday, the Cardinals also sought to trade him, but ultimately found no suitor and placed him on waivers.

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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Cardinals designate LB Myjai Sanders to return from IR

Sanders has yet to play a down this season but now is nearing a return from injured reserve.

The Arizona Cardinals have another player nearing a return from an injury. Again it is not quarterback Kyler Murray. Instead, it is second-year linebacker Myjai Sanders.

Sanders, on injured reserve with a fractured hand since the start of the season, was designated to return from IR.

It means he was able to practice for the first time all season. He was limited in his first practice back.

The Cardinals have 21 days to decide to reinstate him to the active roster.

Sanders, drafted in the third round in 2022, got limited playing time as a rookie. He finished the year with 23 tackles and three seasons last year.

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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Cardinals place OL Dennis Daley and LB Myjai Sanders on IR

Sanders, who injured his hand in training camp, and Daley, who hurt his ankle, must miss at least the first four games of the season.

The Arizona Cardinals made a pair of roster moves on Friday for injured players. They placed guard Dennis Daley and linebacker Myjai Sanders on injured reserve on Thursday, the team announced in a press release and on social media.

Daley injured his ankle in the Cardinals’ preseason finale on Saturday. Head coach Jonathan Gannon ruled him out of the season opener when he spoke to the media on Thursday.

He has now been ruled out for at least four weeks.

Daley in in his first season with the Cardinals after signing as a free agent in the offseason. During the preseason, he was basically their sixth offensive lineman, getting snaps as a tackle eligible when they played a jumbo formation.

Sanders injured his hand early in training camp and did not play in any of their preseason matchups.

The second-year outside linebacker must also miss at least the first four games of the season.

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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LB Myjai Sanders expected to return from hand injury soon

Sanders suffered a hand injury in the first week of camp and has a cast, but Jonathan Gannon says he will return to practice “shortly.”

So far during training camp, the Arizona Cardinals have not had to deal with any major injuries, but they have had a few minor ones.

On player who has missed a few days is second-year linebacker Myjai Sanders. Last week, he banned his hand and has missed practice since. He was seen on the field on Monday with a cast on, but he isn’t expected to be out for long.

“You’ll see him out there pretty shortly,” said head coach Jonathan Gannon on Tuesday when asked if Sanders would have to miss any extended time.

Sanders was drafted in the third round last year and showed some promise as a pass rusher with limited playing time in his rookie campaign.

In 13 games in 2022, he had 23 tackles, three sacks, three tackles for loss, five quarterback hits, a forced fumble and a pass breakup.

Entering Year 2, he is expected to have a larger role in a young core of edge defenders.

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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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POLL: Which young Cardinals pass rusher can become one of NFL’s best?

The Cardinals’ young trio of Cameron Thomas, Myjai Sanders and BJ Ojulari have promise. Can any become one of the league’s best?

Doug Farrar of sister site Touchdown Wire gave his top 11 edge defenders in the NFL. As expected, no Arizona Cardinals made the cut.

The Cardinals have a young core of edge defenders. They have Cameron Thomas and Myjai Sanders, both drafted in the third round last year. They added BJ Ojulari in this year’s draft in the second round.

All three have promise.

Thomas and Sanders both had three sacks last season in limited playing time.

Thomas was named the Cardinals’ secret superstar for 2023 by Farrar. He is PFF’s breakout candidate for the Cardinals.

Sanders looked like the more impactful player early on last year.

Ojulari had more pressures over the last two seasons in college than anyone not named Will Anderson.

Who do you believe has the best chance at making a top 11 list in the years to come?

Vote in the poll!

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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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No Cardinals make top edge defender list

Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar ranks the top 11 edge defenders in 2023. Unsurprisingly and fittingly, no Cardinals make the cut.

We have yet another set of rankings that do not include any Arizona Cardinals players. Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar continued his positional player rankings entering the 2023 season and ranked the top 11 edge rushers in the NFL.

As one could expect, no Arizona Cardinals player made the cut, not even for honorable mention.

Arizona’s edge defenders are young and promising but have not yet reached anywhere near the caliber of player any on this list is.

The Cardinals’ outside linebackers are inexperienced.

They include rookie second-round pick BJ Ojulari, 2022 third-round picks Cameron Thomas and Myjai Sanders, third-year player Victor Dimukeje and special teams ace (with a 2020 flash in the pan) Dennis Gardeck.

2021 first-round pick Zaven Collins is still listed as an inside linebacker but, based on offseason practice reps, is moving to the edge.

Gardeck had seven sacks in 2020, but the group of Dimukeje, Thomas, Collins and Sanders have eight career sacks.

Thomas and Sanders showed promise but neither are there.

Perhaps they will get there in the years to come, but there is no snub in 2023.

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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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J.J. Watt is going to reward a bettor who lost a parlay on his TD that refs erroneously called back

This bad beat just turned into a huge win.

J.J. Watt should have had an easy touchdown in Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams.

When his Cardinals teammate Myjai Sanders strip-sacked John Wolford in the second quarter, Watt had an easy scoop and what should’ve been a short return.

The ruling on the field, however, was an incomplete pass. So Watt’s recovery didn’t count. And while replay review overturned the call, correctly giving Arizona possession, it couldn’t correct the true outcome of the play.

For Arizona bettor Joey Reyes, that was the difference in a parlay that came up short needing one final leg: a touchdown for Arizona’s defense.

Instead of winning $1,000, Reyes got nothing, and he couldn’t help but share his disappointment with Watt on Twitter.

Watt, who clearly wanted that score, shared in his pain. So the three-time Defensive Player of the Year is apparently gifting Reyes something to make up for it.

“I got you. DM me your address.”

“I’m just an AZ boy born&raised, love nothing more than my Arizona Cardinals. So Cardinals ML is obvious, had faith in the defense stepping up yesterday against Wolford & James Conner is healthy again so I knew he would do his thing!” Reyes told For The Win in a direct message.

It turns out Reyes was right, but the referees were wrong for blowing the play dead. They should have let Watt score, then reviewed the fumble after.

Thanks to Watt, the blown call might not cost Reyes. But there’s likely someone else out there who isn’t so lucky.

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