2 min read • August 12, 2021
Posted in
Arizona Cardinals
Offense
QB Kyler Murray -
The Cardinals’ dual-threat QB suffered a mild right shoulder AC sprain in Week 11 last season, but fought through the injury and didn’t miss any time. He suffered an ankle injury in the final week of the season that forced him to leave the game and not return. Murray has started all 16 games in each of his first two seasons in the NFL and comes into the 2021 season healthy. He finished last year with 3,971 passing yards and 37 total touchdowns and could ascend even higher in another year with heach coach Kliff Kingsbury.
RB James Conner -
The new running back for the Arizona Cardinals was bothered by a quad issue at the end of the season which caused him to miss a game. Conner also missed two games when he was placed on the COVID-19 list in Week 12. He had a solid career in Pittsburgh and overcame cancer during his college days. The RB had offseason surgery on his toe and will not be 100% to start the season but should play strong as the season goes on. He will look to build on the 721 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns he recorded in 13 games last year.
Defense
LB Chandler Jones -
Jones suffered a right distal biceps tendon tear Week 5 and missed the rest of the season after he underwent surgery. There is reliable recovery from an injury like this and he should return for a big year with new teammate J.J Watt in the wings.
DE J.J. Watt -
The star free agent signing is dealing with a hamstring injury and has started his Cardinals tenure on the PUP list. The injury has been reported as minor and it is more of a precaution that the veteran is on PUP. Expect him to be activated before Week 1.
DE Zach Allen -
The second-year defensive end suffered an ankle injury in 2020 that caused him to be placed on IR for three games. Allen returned in Week 11 and played well to round out the season, finishing with 35 combined tackles and two sacks. In 2019, Allen suffered a neck injury that limited him to just four games. He comes into the 2021 season with no current injury issues.
DE Jordan Phillips -
The former Bill dealt with a bothersome hamstring injury that cost him seven games in 2020. He returned Week 14 after an IR stint, but reinjured the hamstring in his first game back. He was subsequently put on IR for the second time, ending his season. The hope is an offseason hamstring and flexibility program has him ready to go.
CB Robert Alford -
Alford has suffered season-ending injuries before the start of the last two seasons. In 2020, he suffered a torn pectoral in practice, which caused him to miss the entire season and required surgery. In 2019, he suffered a broken leg that caused him to miss the entire season. Hopefully, the 32-year-old former Falcon can log his first regular season snap for the Cardinals this season. Despite these two season ending injuries, the recovery is reliable and we would rate him fully healthy to start 2021.
S Budda Baker -
Last year, Baker played through a UCL tear in his thumb that required surgery. He missed one game in Week 4 following the surgery. Given his position, Baker was able to get by with his hand wrapped and didn’t miss any other games. He also suffered a groin injury late in the season, but played through the injury and did not miss a game. The 3-time Pro Bowler finished the year with 118 combined tackles, two sacks, two interceptions and a forced fumble. Neither injury should impact his 2021 season.
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