ARIZONA CARDINALS

Cardinals’ Kliff Kingsbury unsure if Markus Golden, Zach Ertz will play Sunday

Sep 5, 2022, 12:31 PM | Updated: Sep 6, 2022, 6:13 am
Markus Golden #44 of the Arizona Cardinals celebrates after recording a sack in the first quarter a...
Markus Golden #44 of the Arizona Cardinals celebrates after recording a sack in the first quarter against the Houston Texans in the game at State Farm Stadium on October 24, 2021 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
(Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)

Arizona Cardinals veterans edge rusher Markus Golden and tight end Zach Ertz are question marks for Sunday’s season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Head coach Kliff Kingsbury said Monday that Golden will be a game-day decision and Ertz is day-to-day.

Golden, who is dealing with a toe injury, worked out on the side during the open portion of Cardinals practice on Monday.

“We’ll continue to progress him and hopefully Wednesday he can do something,” Kingsbury said. “He’s a guy that if he even has limited practices, there’ll be a role for him. But we’ll see how it plays out.”

Golden enters the season as the most experienced edge rusher on Arizona’s active roster.

The Cardinals leaned into their youth on the edge in their roster construction, as Dennis Gardeck, second-year Victor Dimukeje and rookies Cameron Thomas and Myjai Sanders make up the rest of the corps. Devon Kennard is now on the practice squad and provides veteran depth.

Golden is entering the final year of a two-year deal he signed last offseason. He led the Cardinals with 11 sacks in 2021, his first full season under defensive coordinator Vance Joseph.

Ertz has been down with a calf injury he suffered early in training camp. He was not on the field during the open section of Monday’s practice.

“He’ll be like Junk, he’s just going to be day-to-day,” Kingsbury said. “I think Wednesday will be a big day to see how he feels when we get back out there.”

Ertz was Arizona’s top target after his team debut in Week 7 of last season.

On a positive note, Kingsbury said wide receiver Rondale Moore is doing better and is hopeful the target will be ready to go Sunday. Kingsbury did not disclose what ailment Moore has been dealing with.

The former Purdue Boilermaker is set to have a bigger role in 2022.

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