ARIZONA CARDINALS

Cardinals OL Will Hernandez ejected vs. Panthers for pushing official

Oct 2, 2022, 3:37 PM | Updated: Oct 3, 2022, 7:38 am

Quard Will Hernandez #76 of the Arizona Cardinals on the bench during the second half of the NFL ga...

Quard Will Hernandez #76 of the Arizona Cardinals on the bench during the second half of the NFL game at State Farm Stadium on September 25, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona. The Rams defeated the Cardinals 20-12. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Arizona Cardinals right guard Will Hernandez was ejected from Sunday’s 26-16 win over the Carolina Panthers for hitting an official early in the fourth quarter.

Carolina linebacker Frankie Luvu threw Cardinals running back James Conner down hard after the whistle on a play in the red zone, prompting a personal foul call.

Cardinals offensive linemen Kelvin Beachum and Hernandez went to confront Luvu, but the latter pushed into the back of an official to get there. The ensuing scuffle did not lead to any more penalties, but the ejection of Hernandez left an already depleted offensive line group thinner.

“You can’t swing, obviously,” head coach Kliff Kingsbury told reporters postgame.

“I think you can get in front of a guy and protect your guy, but once you start doing that, you cross the line and we all know that. That’s laid out plainly that is something you can not do in this league. We have to be smarter in those situations.

Left guard Justin Pugh exited in the second quarter with an elbow injury and is questionable to return, while center Rodney Hudson went into the locker room but came back in the game.

Max Garcia took over at left guard to right, while Sean Harlow entered the game at left guard.

Arizona Cardinals

Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon looks on...

Tyler Drake

More Marv! How Arizona Cardinals can turn the tide vs. Rams

A look at the biggest changes the Arizona Cardinals can make in hopes of successfully defending their home turf against the Los Angeles Rams:

1 hour ago

Arizona Cardinals' DeeJay Dallas reacts during an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sund...

Bailey Leasure

Arizona Cardinals’ DeeJay Dallas on kick return touchdown: ‘It was all a blur’

Arizona Cardinals running back and kick returner DeeJay Dallas couldn't recall the reaction he and his teammates had after scoring a 96-yard kick return touchdown against the Bills.

16 hours ago

Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray (Jeremy Schnell/Arizona Sports)...

Arizona Sports

Cardinals injury report: Kyler Murray good to go, Rams O-line depth clears up

Kyler Murray is good to go for Arizona despite appearing on the Arizona Cardinals injury report, while the Rams' offensive line is banged up.

20 hours ago

...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: Cardinals’ DeeJay Dallas breaks down the first ever dynamic kickoff return for a touchdown

Arizona Cardinals RB DeeJay Dallas joined Wolf & Luke to talk about his dynamic kickoff return for a touchdown in Week 1 of the NFL season.

21 hours ago

Spencer Whipple looks on during Arizona Cardinals training camp...

Tyler Drake

Spencer Whipple, Cardinals’ wearer of many hats, moves to RBs coach for Rams game

Cardinals pass game specialist and Jack of all trades Spencer Whipple is filling in as Arizona's RBs coach with Autry Denson out against the Rams.

22 hours ago

...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: Can the Cardinals finally break their home losing streak to the Los Angeles Rams?

Bickley & Marotta chat with Rams play-by-play announcer J.B. Long to preview the Arizona Cardinals' Week 2 game against Los Angeles.

23 hours ago

Cardinals OL Will Hernandez ejected vs. Panthers for pushing official