Cardinals’ Rondale Moore struggles in primetime debut against Packers
Oct 29, 2021, 11:45 AM
(Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
Arizona Cardinals rookie wide receiver Rondale Moore has impressed during his first seven games in the league, but seemed to have his “Welcome to the NFL” moment in Thursday night’s 24-21 loss to the Green Bay Packers.
Playing in primetime, Thursday night could’ve been the opportunity for Moore to show the league the kind of dynamic playmaker he is. Instead, a moment of indecision proved costly, when Moore muffed a punt in the second quarter, giving Green Bay possession at the Arizona two-yard line.
#Packers recover the ball on the 3-yard line after Rondale Moore gets his fingers on the punt #GoPackGo
— Sportskeeda Pro Football (@SKProFootball) October 29, 2021
“He’s hard on himself, he’s a perfectionist, wants to be great,” Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury said of Moore after the game. “Still a young player learning, made a bunch of plays as well.”
Another mistake came off the hands of Moore early in the third quarter. Setting up the rookie for a screen inside their own 10-yard line, quarterback Kyler Murray’s pass hit off Moore’s fingertips and landed in the hands of Packers safety Henry Black.
The @Packers defense is putting on a show tonight!
Interception has them in good field position!
(via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/7MGqMeLEbR
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) October 29, 2021
Another rookie moment for the former standout at Purdue, Moore took a kickoff five yards deep from his own end zone and was only able to get to the 15-yard line, squandering the Cardinals of an extra 10 yards had he taken a touchback.
Moore finished the game with three catches for 24 yards and also had two carries in the game, but just one yard on the ground to show for it.