Cardinals’ WR depth continues to be tested, Kingsbury confident in group
Sep 25, 2022, 8:00 PM | Updated: 11:14 pm
The Arizona Cardinals were down to four active wide receivers in the second half of Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams.
A.J. Green injured his knee in the first half and did not return, leaving head coach Kliff Kingsbury with Marquise Brown, Greg Dortch, Andy Isabella and Andre Baccellia, the latter of whom was a practice squad elevation.
Brown and Dortch had career days in receptions, but the Cardinals were left touchdown-less in a 20-12 loss to L.A.
Without Green and considering Antoine Wesley (injured/reserve) and DeAndre Hopkins (suspension) were inactive, all size from the position was lost.
Kingsbury, though, said he had confidence in his healthy targets going forward, explaining he felt the team still has enough weapons.
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“I’ve got to do a good job of maximizing, putting them in positions to be successful, but I like what we have,” Kingsbury said.
“I think the guys stepped in and did their job, those guys work hard to practice, it’s just the numbers now.”
Wide receiver Rondale Moore missed his third straight game with a hamstring issue, but Kingsbury said Green’s knee will not affect Moore’s timeline.
“We’re gonna make sure he’s 100% before we ask him to come back,” Kingsbury said.
The Cardinals trailed Sunday’s game from early in the first quarter until the final whistle, and thus, they threw the ball a ton.
Quarterback Kyler Murray had a career-high 58 pass attempts, including 17 to Brown, 10 to Dortch, 10 to tight end Zach Ertz and five to running back James Conner.
No other tight end got a target.
Murray said he’s not concerned about the shrinking receiver room, noting that throughout training camp the team had to adjust to players being in and out and the backups need to be ready.
Brown said the position group is light but the healthy bodies can play. He stated that he will play every snap if that is needed, and he feels his counterparts have the same mentality.
“When we do get back fully healthy and the guys come back, it gives us some motivation to look forward to,” Brown said.
Kingsbury didn’t have any specific update on the severity of Green’s injury. Arizona has four practice squad receivers to choose from should they need added depth next week.
