Cardinals looking to ’embrace the challenge’ of postseason play

Just like that, the regular season has come to a close.

Ready or not, the quest for a Super Bowl kicks into overdrive for the Arizona Cardinals and head coach Kliff Kingsbury, who along with quarterback Kyler Murray, is cracking the postseason for the first time since arriving to the Valley in 2019.

But unlike the other playoff teams, Arizona will have a little more time on its hands as it preps for a Monday night Wild Card battle against the Los Angeles Rams.

“You just embrace the challenge,” Kingsbury said Monday. “Obviously, we haven’t been a part of that yet but we’ve played some really good football games and teams and worked our way to this point. It’s about taking that next step and embracing it.”

The Cardinals have an off day Monday before they reconvene for some film study on Tuesday prior to hitting the field Thursday for the first day of practice.

RB James Conner still being evaluated

While the Cardinals embark on their week of preparation for Los Angeles, a key piece to the team’s success this season in running back James Conner remains a question mark.

The running back had turned in yet another multi-touchdown outing to go along with 93 scrimmage yards before exiting with a ribs injury early in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 38-30 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. He did not return.

“He’s still being evaluated (Monday),” Kingsbury said. “And so we’ll see how that kind of shakes out over the next couple of days.

“Hopefully it’s not too serious, but we won’t know for a couple of days.”

Conner isn’t the only Cardinals running back banged up, either, as Chase Edmonds works his way back from toe and ribs injuries.

Cards hopeful CB Marco Wilson, 2 others can contribute this week

On the defensive side of the football, Kingsbury is hopeful the trio of cornerbacks Marco Wilson, recently signed Bashaud Breeland and Kevin Peterson, who was injured in Sunday’s loss, can contribute in some form throughout the week and eventually feel good enough to play.

And with the matchup slated for Monday night, Cardinals players have an extra day to recover.

“I think it comes at the right time with some lingering injuries we’ve had with some key contributors trying to get them back on the field,” Kingsbury said of the added day. “I think it’ll be good for us to reset, get that extra day and prepare to try and win this this week.

“I think it’s sudden death and it’s one and your done if you don’t get it done. And so that is our sole focus. We’re not worried about anything past Monday night.”

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