RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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With the season rapidly approaching, the Arizona Cardinals are facing issues (surprise, surprise) with injuries.
As the clock ticks toward the NFL roster reduction to 53 on Aug. 30 and the season opener for the Arizona Cardinals two weeks later, there remain significant injury questions at important position groups.
Running back
With the return to play unknown for rookie Jeremiyah Love because of a high-ankle sprain, coupled with scant practice time for James Conner and Trey Benson, the healthy backs are Tyler Allgeier, Zonovan Knight, Corey Kiner, Evan Hull and Tre Stewart. Hull and Stewart have been on the roster for 18 and five days, respectively.
Conner played in only three games last season, and despite avoiding the PUP list at the start of training camp, he has practiced but hasn’t participated in 11-on-11 work.
Asked about Conner after last week’s preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders , head coach Mike LaFleur said, “It was cool to see him suited up if you guys saw that. He was in his jersey the other day because he wanted to feel that. So, he's progressing. I'm not going to give you a timeline on it because we don't know that timeline yet. And like I've said multiple times, he's played enough in this league and has earned the right to know when he is going to be able to return.
“And it's not return to play, it's return to performance. Anyone can get back out there, but if they don't feel like they can perform at the level that they're capable of, why put them out there? Particularly a vet like him who's done it at such a high clip for so many years. I know he's eager to get back and in due time, I think we'll see him.”
Blocking tight end
The absence of Tip Reiman after Week 4 last season was rarely mentioned, but it was one crucial factor in the failure of the run game. Tackle Kelvin Beachum was often utilized in Reiman’s role, which essentially tells the defense he won’t be a target in the passing game.
Reiman opened camp on PUP and remains there. The other tight ends on the roster after Trey McBride and Elijah Higgins are Rivaldo Fairweather, Teagan Quitoriano, Shawn Bowman and Baylor Cupp. Bowman has been with the team since Aug. 9 and Cupp Aug. 15. Rookie free agent Jamison Geers was placed on injured reserve after suffering a thumb injury against the Raiders.
When asked Thursday whether Reiman and edge rusher Josh Sweat, both on PUP, will play in Week 1, LaFleur said, “No with Tip. He’s progressing and Josh is looking good.”
Noting more was offered on Sweat, which is another potential issue considering there are a limited number of practices prior to Sept. 7, which is the beginning of prep week for the first game.
LaFleur said “it’s hard to tell” when Reiman will be able to play. He added, “He’s putting in a ton of work as well. He’s a large man, too, and putting a lot of force in that, so there are good days and not-as-good days.”
A decision will have to be made on Aug. 30 whether to remove Reiman from PUP or place him on reserve, which would keep him off the practice field for at least the first two weeks of the season and make him ineligible to play until after Week 4.
“Those are the tough decisions,” LaFleur acknowledged. “You lean on the player to speak truth as well. Trust these guys. Tip is made of all the right stuff. Tips gonna keep it real with us.”
Slot cornerback
There was at least promising injury news when Garrett Williams was removed from PUP Thursday, almost exactly eight months since suffering a torn Achilles on Dec. 21 against the Atlanta Falcons.
“We’re gonna take that one day at a time,” LaFleur said, regarding how much Williams will do in practice. “Again, the human element. A lot of work was put in, first and foremost by him, and then a lot of people behind the scenes to get to this point. Happy for him. He’s had a smile on his face. (We) knew this day was coming for some time now.”
With Williams sidelined, Sean Murphy-Bunting has been working in the slot, and that’s where Williams will be for now.
LaFleur said, “We’ll do what we see as necessary depending on where this thing goes. But right now, the plan is to play him inside. In ‘24 when he got here, I know from our vantage point in LA, it was dang, ‘They got another good one.’ He does really some good stuff on the inside, not that he can’t on the outside, but that’s where we’ll start him.”
The importance of that position can’t be minimized.
“It’s really no different from a receiver that plays inside the numbers, inside the alleys, inside the paint,” LaFleur said. “You gotta be able to muck it up, gotta mix it up, gotta be physical. It’s a different game than it used to be in there. He’s got the size, he’s got the want-to, he’s got the smarts. He’s a good player and we’re excited to have him back.”
Quarterback
Jacoby Brissett won’t play Saturday against the Dallas Cowboys, while Gardner Minshew II will start and play at least the first half and perhaps into the third quarter, depending on what happens in the first half. With Carson Beck still dealing with a rib injury, Kedon Slovis is expected to play after Minshew exits.
Surely, the Cardinals hoped to get more preseason play from Beck after the Hall of Fame Game, and that still could happen in the preseason finale against the Green Bay Packers.
LaFleur said Beck is “feeling better” and was scheduled to throw after practice Thursday, but was a “most likely, no” for the game.
“I’ve had that happen to me,” LaFleur said. “Don’t want to lose you guys; it was a Division III game where the next day or three or four days later it felt way worse.”
Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify , YouTube or Apple Podcasts .
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