Cardinals RB Kenyan Drake reportedly suffered ankle ligament tear
Oct 26, 2020, 7:32 AM | Updated: 2:02 pm
Arizona Cardinals running back Kenyan Drake (41) is helped off the field after an injury during the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
X-rays on the ankle of Cardinals running back Kenyan Drake were negative Sunday night after he left the game against the Seattle Seahawks, but he will miss “a few weeks” after suffering a slightly torn ligament, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Schefter said the Cardinals are treating the injury as a high ankle sprain.
That could place the running back on injured reserve.
Drake suffered the injury in Arizona’s 37-34 overtime win and was replaced by backup Chase Edmonds. The lead back underwent an MRI Monday, and results weren’t known when head coach Kliff Kingsbury spoke with reporters.
In the fourth quarter with less than five minutes left on Sunday, Drake got the first down on a critical 4th-and-1 to keep Arizona’s hopes alive down 10.
Drake stayed down after the play and would need to be helped off the field. He slowly took a seat on the bench before a cart took him to the locker room as he placed a towel over his face in tears.
The running back finished the game with 14 carries and 34 yards for 2.4 yards per carry.
Through six games, he has 119 rushes for 512 yards (third in the NFL) and four touchdowns.
Edmonds hauled in seven receptions for 87 yards on the ground and added five carries for 58 yards, including a 32-yard scamper that made up a majority of Arizona’s first overtime drive. That 49-yard drive led to a 41-yard game-winning field goal attempt that was missed by Cardinals kicker Zane Gonzalez.
Now the Cardinals move forward with Edmonds as the lead back. Arizona has a Week 8 bye before returning to action on Nov. 6 against Drake’s former team, the Miami Dolphins.
Kingsbury said a competition will take place for backup reps.
D.J. Foster plus rookies Jonathan Ward and Eno Benjamin could be in the conversation if Arizona does not bring in outside help.
“I’d say at this point it’d be a group effort. They all bring something unique,” Kingsbury said. “I wouldn’t say there’s one that we’re leaning towards over the other two. We’ll have a competition for those guys and see who practices the best and take it from there.”
