ARIZONA CARDINALS

Air quality update: Cardinals, 49ers game on track to be played

Sep 13, 2020, 8:28 AM | Updated: 12:36 pm

San Francisco 49ers work out at Levi's Stadium during NFL football practice in Santa Clara, Calif.,...

San Francisco 49ers work out at Levi's Stadium during NFL football practice in Santa Clara, Calif., Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, Pool)

(AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, Pool)

In the hours before the Arizona Cardinals’ first game of the season, the air quality was at a level in which the opener against the San Francisco 49ers could take place.

The air quality index reading (AQI) was at 171 at noon in Santa Clara, which falls into the “unhealthy” range, according to AirNow.gov. The NFL will allow practices or games to be played if the AQI remains below 200.

That AQI of 171 was down a tick from the hours of 9, 10 and 11 a.m. After being at 171 at 8 a.m., it rose to 172 over the next three hours before returning.

The game remained on schedule to be played, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Although the air quality is at a level where a game could be played, some players’ availability may be impacted, including 49ers running back Tevin Coleman. Schefter reported his status for Week 1 was “uncertain” due to a combination of pre-existing health issues and the poor air quality.

AirNow projects the air quality index to borderline the level at which the game would not be able to be played. It is projected to get to 199.

IQAir projects more moderate air quality the rest of the day than Friday, when the air quality index jumped from 154 at 9 a.m. to 241 by 6 p.m.

At noon on Friday, the level was 190, according to IQAir.

AQI readings have now spiked into the “unhealthy” range, above 150, three times in the past month, topping out at 166 on Aug. 19 and then breaking the 200 mark Friday.

The air quality in the area has been poor due to wildfires in California.

Kickoff is scheduled for 1:25 p.m. at Levi’s Stadium. Listen live at 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station.

Presented By
Western Governors University

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.
comments powered by Disqus

Arizona Cardinals

Desmond Ridder runs the rock against Houston...

Tyler Drake

Desmond Ridder eager to remind fellow Cardinals QB Clayton Tune about college wins

Cardinals quarterback Desmond Ridder may not know Kyler Murray just yet, but he and Clayton Tune go way back.

1 day ago

LSU's Malik Nabers, a top NFL Draft prospect...

Kevin Zimmerman

NFL Draft: Malik Nabers to visit Arizona Cardinals after LSU pro day, per report

Top NFL Draft receiver prospect Malik Nabers will reportedly visit with the Arizona Cardinals after the LSU Tigers' pro day.

1 day ago

Desmond Ridder looks to pass...

Tyler Drake

QB1 or not, Desmond Ridder keeping starter mentality with Cardinals

New Cardinals QB Desmond Ridder is focused on using the good and the bad from his first two seasons rather than listening to outside chatter.

2 days ago

Jonathan Gannon and Kyler Murray look on...

Tyler Drake

Cardinals’ Jonathan Gannon: Kyler Murray’s ‘best football is ahead of him’

Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon believes Kyler Murray will continue taking the necessary steps forward with a full offseason of work.

2 days ago

Kyler Murray chats with Jonathan Gannon...

Arizona Sports

Arizona Cardinals will face ‘really good’ AFC opponent for joint preseason practices

The Arizona Cardinals expect to hold joint practices in the preseason against a really good AFC opponent, in the words of Jonathan Gannon.

2 days ago

Patriots and Cardinals kick off return in 2020...

Associated Press

NFL owners approve new kickoff rules for 2024

NFL kickoff rules will take on a hybrid approach similar to the XFL. League owners approved the new measures Tuesday.

2 days ago

Air quality update: Cardinals, 49ers game on track to be played