Cardinals’ Rodney Hudson out, Chandler Jones not expected to play vs. Browns
Oct 13, 2021, 10:37 AM | Updated: 1:59 pm
Rodney Hudson #61 of the Arizona Cardinals looks on during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on October 03, 2021 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
(Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
The Arizona Cardinals may be without two key players as the team travels to Cleveland this week to face the Browns, with center Rodney Hudson out and pass-rusher Chandler Jones not expected to play, head coach Kliff Kingsbury told reporters Wednesday.
Hudson left the Cardinals’ Week 5 game against the San Francisco 49ers in the third quarter with a rib injury. The veteran was a big offseason addition for general manager Steve Keim and has already showed his importance during the Cardinals’ 5-0 start to the season.
Arizona traded its 2021 third-round pick to the Las Vegas Raiders and received a seventh-round selection in a deal to acquire Hudson.
The Cardinals will now rely on Max Garcia at the center position, who filled in for Hudson against San Francisco. The 29-year-old is in his third season with the Cardinals and has been in the league since 2015.
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In five games, Garcia has played 142 snaps lined up at right guard and center, good for 42% of Cardinals’ offensive plays.
Jones landed on the COVID-19 reserve list on Tuesday. He has five sacks on the season, all of which coming in Week 1 against the Tennessee Titans.
“It’s just the way it goes,” Kingsbury said Wednesday. “We’ve been fully vaccinated now for awhile and it’s unfortunate, particularly for Chandler, who was playing at a high level. Hopefully he can get well rested and get back by next week’s game, so we’ll see how that plays out.
“I hope [Jones can play this week], but how I’ve seen it go so far, I think that would be a stretch,” the head coach added.
With the absence of Jones, the Cardinals will rely on outside backers Markus Golden, Devon Kennard and Dennis Gardeck.
