Health on Arizona Cardinals’ side heading into season
By Jim Koch
The Arizona Cardinals will be looking to avoid major injuries in order to make their Super Bowl aspirations come to fruition
The Arizona Cardinals have been incredibly lucky this preseason. Aside from the normal amount of bumps and bruises, the team will enter the regular-season pretty much intact. Thats great news for a franchise looking to win it’s first Super Bowl this year.
Inside linebacker Deone Bucannon’s ankle is the Cards’ biggest concern at this juncture. His status for the upcoming Detroit Lions contest is unknown, but there’s hope within the organization that he’ll be ready to go. If “Buc” isn’t able to suit up, Arizona will most likely turn to first-round pick Haason Reddick to step in.
The obvious key to a successful campaign for the Cardinals will be keeping quarterback Carson Palmer upright. The 37-year old is the unquestioned leader of the group and the only signal-caller on the roster capable of taking them all the way. Palmer is no stranger to injury, having suffered two ACL tears over the course of his 14 campaigns in the league.
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Safety Tyrann Mathieu, when healthy, can lift the Cards’ defense with his stellar play and infectious energy. His main problem has been a lack of availability. The “Honey Badger” has missed 14 games since 2013, but has looked 100% ready-to-go this summer.
John Brown was hampered by an odd sickle-cell condition last season after a 1000-yard effort in 2015. He then missed a bunch of time during the training camp that just concluded. But Brown’s performance two weeks ago against the Atlanta Falcons (two catches for 49 yards and two touchdowns) had observers believing that the old “Smokey ” is back.
Safety Tyvon Branch missed 10 games last year because of a groin injury, but is now back to roam Arizona’s secondary once again. Right tackle Jared Veldheer is back as a starter (albeit at a new position) after a torn triceps cost him eight contests a year ago. A torn ACL cost wideout Jaron Brown nine games in 2016, but the backup is out to repay management for extending him while he was injured.
The Cardinals’ injury report should look relatively clean this week. Whatever the outcome of the Cardinals’ tangle with Detroit, injuries shouldn’t be used as an excuse. Hopefully it remains that way throughout the season.