Rodney Hudson ruled out for 5th straight game vs. Seahawks
Oct 31, 2022, 2:16 PM
Rodney Hudson #61 of the Arizona Cardinals on the field during pregame warm-ups before the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on November 07, 2021 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
TEMPE — The Arizona Cardinals will not have starting center Rodney Hudson Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks.
Head coach Kliff Kingsbury ruled Hudson out on Monday for “at least” this week, which will be the veteran’s fifth straight missed game.
Hudson is dealing with a knee issue after playing every offensive snap in Weeks 2-4, and Kingsbury said he expects Hudson back at some point this season but was unsure when.
“I mean, he’s a Pro Bowl-caliber center, very established leader, very cerebral … doing all those things,” Kingsbury said. “If you lose a piece like that, it’s never gonna be easy to replace him. We’ll see when we get him back.”
Without Hudson this season, the Cardinals are 1-3.
Kingsbury turned to Sean Harlow for two starts and newcomer Billy Price in the last two games at center.
The offensive line has been in flux this season with five starting combinations. Left guard Justin Pugh is out for the year with a torn ACL, and left tackle D.J. Humphries missed Week 8 with a back issue. Max Garcia, Pugh’s backup, did not play Sunday with a shoulder injury.
“It’s tough,” Kingsbury said after Sunday’s 34-26 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. “You miss three of those starters, Pro Bowl-type players, that’s not going to be easy.”
Hudson turned 33 during the offseason and considered retirement. He returned to the team for training camp in time to start Week 1.
The second-year Cardinal missed five games last season with a ribs injury and COVID-19. Arizona went 2-3 without him.
