Arizona Cardinals: Receiver grades vs. Chiefs

Six different Arizona Cardinals receivers caught passes against the Kansas City Chiefs

The Arizona Cardinals saw 11 different players catch at least one pass in the 34-19 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday night. Of those 11, six of them were receivers. The ball was spread around a bit and there was some good and not so good amongst those six receivers.

Most of the receiving came from the backups but in the first preseason game that is to be expected. Here are the grades given to the six receivers from Saturday night’s loss. Only those receivers who caught a pass were graded.

Jaron Brown

Jaron Brown was having a decent training camp up until Saturday night. However in the loss to the Chiefs, he was targeted four times but only came up with one catch for 12 yards. One of the passes intended for him was intercepted after the pass from quarterback Logan Thomas hit him in his chest pads but bounced off into the arms of Chiefs linebacker Ramik Wilson.

Those are the types of catches he needs to make. One catch does not mean he’s in danger of not making the roster. At least not in his case. However he needs to come up with those catches if he wants to be a guy that Carson Palmer can rely on this season. His Saturday night grade is a “D”.

John Brown

John Brown saw limited action on Saturday night but made a nice 14-yard grab in his only catch. I suspect we will see more of him as we get to see more of Palmer and Drew Stanton as the preseason goes along. The one catch was made in his only target in the game. I will give him an “A” because he really didn’t do anything negative out on the field.

J.J. Nelson

J.J. Nelson continues to be a joy to watch. He caught two passes for 20 yards on Saturday night. One of his catches was a beautiful 16-yard reception that gave the Cardinals a much needed first down. He was targeted four times in the game. The kid has speed and if he can keep creating separation at the line of scrimmage, he will be a guy Palmer will want to find often as well. He gets an “A” for Saturday night.

Jaxon Shipley

Here is a guy that played well in special teams and caught a nice 21 yard pass against the Chiefs. He is in a unfortunate situation where he probably won’t make the final 53-man roster no matter how well he plays in the preseason. It just becomes a numbers game and there are already at least six guys ahead of him.

The Cardinals may not even keep six receivers when it is all said and done. He appears to be playing for someone else but in the meantime, nice job against the Chiefs. He gets an “A” as well. No negatives I saw from him.

Ryan Spadola

Spadola came down hard on his hand in the fourth quarter but coach Bruce Arians after the game said there were no major injuries to be reported. That was good news to hear considering how hard he came down. He ended up with one reception for three yards. He was targeted four times. I give him a “B”.

Travis Harvey

Harvey is yet another receiver who will become victim to a numbers game. He caught two passes for 41 yards and a touchdown late in the game against the Chiefs. He worked hard. He was targeted six times, so he didn’t come down with everything but not all of that was his fault. He gets a “B+”.

Brittan Golden was targeted twice and Trevor Harman was targeted once but neither caught a pass. Larry Fitzgerald got into the game on the first series but was not targeted. So all get an “incomplete” for Saturday night.

Arizona Cardinals: Receiver grades vs. Chiefs

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