ARIZONA CARDINALS
Cardinals’ Chase Edmonds ‘good to go’ for Wild Card, optimistic on Conner
Dallas Cowboys cornerback Jourdan Lewis (26) reaches to tackle Arizona Cardinals running back Chase Edmonds (2) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
TEMPE — Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury didn’t want to get ahead of himself on Thursday when when talking about starting running backs Chase Edmonds and James Conner.
Despite Edmonds being back at practice and Conner working on the side, the head coach said the pair would likely be game-time decisions when the Wild Card matchup against the Los Angeles Rams rolls around on Monday, adding that “it’ll be close” for the pair for get the green light.
But ask Edmonds and you’ll get a different answer.
“Feeling good to go so I’ll be out there Monday night,” Edmonds said Thursday. “No. 2 will be suited up.”
Edmonds is hoping to return to action after sitting out of the team’s 38-30 season finale loss to the Seattle Seahawks due to ribs and toes injuries.
In 12 regular season games this season, Edmonds tallied 592 yards and two touchdowns on 116 attempts. He was also utilized in the passing game, catching 43 of his 53 targets for 311 yards and two scores.
As for his running mate in Conner, Edmonds wouldn’t speak on his health but was optimistic on the first-year Cardinals’ status given the sheer magnitude of the game and Conner’s mentality.
“I find it very hard to believe that JC is gonna miss this game,” Edmonds said. “You can take that with a grain of salt, I’m not a doctor, obviously.
“But just knowing him and the competitor that he is, it’s gonna be hard to not have No. 6 out there so I believe that hopefully he will be there.”
Conner was active in the team’s loss to the Seahawks but left with a ribs injury.
Getting both starting RBs back healthy would be a huge boost for Arizona. Outside of Week 15’s loss to the Detroit Lions, the pair haven’t been active for the same game since Week 9’s win over the San Francisco 49ers.
Jordan Phillips also a game-time decision
Like Conner and Edmonds, defensive lineman Jordan Phillips’ status will likely come down to a game-day decision, per Kingsbury.
“He’s progressing through the week and then we’ll see how he feels going into Monday,” Kingsbury said Thursday.
For the second straight season, Phillips played just nine games due to injury.
Over that span, the lineman recorded three sacks, 22 tackles and four QB hits.
The Cardinals take on the Rams in an NFC Wild Card round matchup in Los Angeles at 6:15 p.m. Tune to 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station for all the action.
