Cardinals GM not yet hitting panic button after run of running back injuries
Michael Carter, Emari Demercado and Bam Knight will have an opportunity for reps as the Arizona Cardinals face the Tennessee Titans.
Watch: Arizona Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort shares his thoughts on the team's RB room | 11 mins
Rather than the Arizona Cardinals hitting the panic button in Week 4 with injuries hitting the top two running backs, general manager Monti Ossenfort sees it as an opportunity.
For the time being, a Week 4 game against a quickly spiraling Tennessee Titans club will allow Arizona to evaluate its running back depth that, in some order, could include third-stringer Emari Demercado, practice squad elevation Michael Carter and perhaps even surprise 53-roster appointee Bam Knight.
“You build in depth on your practice squad, right? And that’s why Mike Carter has been a valuable piece for us, and he’s played a lot of snaps for us over the last couple years, and he’s going to now,” Ossenfort told Arizona Sports’ Wolf & Luke.
“There’s other considerations that come into that with timing … James Connor’s going to be down for the year. We’re going to get Trey Benson back. So, you know, there (are) reinforcements coming. And so, it’s a balance,” the general manager added. “It’s a balance when it comes to roster building of, you know, what you have in-house, what you have on the practice squad, what is behind door No. 2 outside the building, along with … when do you expect injured players to return?”
The Cardinals lost James Conner for the season a week before their Thursday loss to the Seattle Seahawks, where backup Trey Benson’s first big opportunity ended with a meniscus injury that has put him on injured reserve.
Head coach Jonathan Gannon didn’t commit to naming anyone a starter for the game Sunday against the Titans — he said all three of the candidates have their roles — but the likely bet is on either Carter or Demercado.
Carter didn’t make the 53-man roster to begin the regular season but was retained on the practice squad. He made his debut last Thursday and took just one carry in four snaps.
Demercado got 26 snaps last week and had a catch for a seven-yard touchdown as Arizona made a brief comeback from two touchdowns down before losing on a last-second field goal.
They will get their chance to perform thanks to Ossenfort’s patience in choosing the in-house options over aggressively jumping on waiver claims or midseason trades.
“Sometimes you have players that have experience and have played before and have contributed. And other times, it’s younger players or guys that are getting their first opportunities,” Ossenfort said. “And so, you know, we’ve been hit here in the last couple weeks, the corner room and now the running back room.
“That’s why we build the roster and create depth. There’s opportunities for other guys that some of them have had before and some, this will be their first time, and we’re excited to see them play.”
Related
Cardinals CB Will Johnson confident about health headed into Year 2
Carson Beck takes another step despite sloppy offensive showing at training camp
Michael Wilson trending up in WR1 battle as Marvin Harrison Jr. has case of the drops
Carson Beck among those needing a boost this Cardinals training camp as pads come on
Cardinals QB Jacoby Brissett is worth investing in for this season
Darius Robinson, Michael Wilson among early training camp standouts for Cardinals
Comments
3 Comments
I will say, this is where I disagree with Monti..IMO he’s overly patient and overly protective of the Teams Assets..
I get where he’s coming from, especially in the overspending department.. And also how people can shine when given the opportunity.. But that’s also what practice is designed for..
And bluntly speaking sometimes you simply have to be reactive based on the circumstances.. I think everyone would agree we lost both of these last two games because our cornerback room is decimated.. Monti chose to be patient.. And now, as attempting to do it with our top two running back out of commission..
If we don’t want to trade assets, that’s fine, then bring players in who have experience..
I sincerely get where he’s coming from as he doesn’t want to disrupt the locker room, but again sometimes it’s called for..
For RBs - right now Chase Edmonds, Edwards, Moss, Abdullah are available..
CBs Bradberry, Gilmore and Asante are available..
OK, you don’t disrupt. But I have to think two of these players would be good teammates..
Monti is always gonna play it safe. For better or worse thru go with players they know that should, could, it likely for the team.
But more than likely they're planning on increasing the passing attack.( And maybe a few more runs for the lil one.)
you need the run game to grind things out, but aren't gonna challenge other teams without a good air attack.
for what it's worth I think the lil one needs to throw the ball up so the WRs need to high point the ball. Especially MHJ, as that'll make him concentrate more on catching. His better catches since last year have been from those type of throws. That also let's him use his height and extension to gain separation as he doesn't have very good contested catch rate numbers.
I agree. He plays it wayyyy too cautious. He’s got cash, the picks but won’t pull it. Guess he’s saving it for a rainy day fund👀🤷🏽🙄