Dealing Cards: Running back depth in question, Deone Bucannon day-to-day

TEMPE, Ariz. – The honesty in which Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians answers questions is refreshing.

Typically, those in his position in the NFL choose to be vague or offer smokescreens, especially regarding injuries. Arians, however, does not.

So, when the question was asked Wednesday about what running backs might be available for this week’s game against Los Angeles, Arians was direct.

“I have no clue,” he said.

Just about every player in the Cardinals’ running backs room is dealing with an injury.

Starter Adrian Peterson and backup Kerwynn Williams both were hurt in the Jacksonville game. Peterson injured his neck and did not practice Wednesday, while Williams broke a couple of ribs; yet he was on the field for the week’s first practice, albeit as a limited participant.

“Kerwynn’s a tough son of a gun,” Arians said.

Then there’s Elijhaa Penny, who played 25 snaps (two on offensive) against the Jaguars despite not practicing once leading up to the game because of a bad knee.

That leaves D.J. Foster and Bronson Hill; the latter of whom on Wednesday was elevated to the active roster from the practice squad, which he had just joined last week.

“We’ve got five of them, and four of them practiced,” Arians said. “I’m not sure who will be available yet.”

Deone Bucannon update

Initially, the Cardinals feared the worst, that dollar linebacker Deone Bucannon might’ve been lost for the season upon hurting his ankle against Jacksonville.

The injury suffered midway through the first quarter was to the same right ankle in which he had offseason surgery, costing him the first three games of 2017.

“Originally thought it was cracked where he had the procedure done,” Arians said.

Bucannon did not practice Wednesday, and his status moving forward is up in the air.

”It’s really day-to-day,” Arians said. “I don’t know about this week, but it’s just an ankle sprain now.”

Injury report

In addition to Peterson and Bucannon, five other Cardinals players missed practice on Wednesday due to injury: wide receiver John Brown (toe), safety Rudy Ford (knee), wide receiver Brittan Golden (groin), defensive lineman Josh Mauro (ankle), defensive lineman Corey Peters (ankle).

Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald and tight end Ricky Seals-Jones also did not practice. Their absences, however, were not injury related. In fact, Seals-Jones had a good excuse. He became a new father on Wednesday.

The rest of the Cardinals’ injury report listed tight end Troy Niklas (back/knee) and defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche (ankle) as limited.

ASU coaching search

Among the many names linked to Arizona State and its head coach opening is Cardinals offensive coordinator Harold Goodwin.

It’s no secret Goodwin has head coaching aspirations, but thus far his interviews have all been on the NFL level.

“I have no idea,” Arians said, when asked if ASU had asked for permission to speak to Goodwin.

The school is planning to meet with former NFL head coach and current ESPN Analyst Herm Edwards this weekend.

“Herm is a good friend,” Arians said. “I was kind of surprised when I heard it, but he’s got a good knowledge of the game, and he has stayed active in it.”

Surprised? Why?

“How old he is,” Arians said. “I don’t think he’s coached (in college). He might have coached one year at San Jose State. Having never coached it, you’ve got to learn all those rules and stuff.”

Pro Bowl voting

Linebacker Chandler Jones continues to be a fan favorite. His name remains atop the list of vote-getters among NFC outside linebackers in the latest voting results for the 2018 Pro Bowl.

Teammate Budda Baker, however, now trails Philadelphia’s Kamu Grugier-Hill in the special teams category.

Fan voting will continue online and on web-enabled mobile phones until Thursday, Dec. 14.

Rosters will be announced on Tuesday, Dec. 19 live on NFL Network’s Pro Bowl special “NFL Total Access: Pro Bowl Players Revealed”.

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