Cardinals place wide receiver on the Reserve/COVID-19 list
By Jim Koch
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Antoine Wesley will miss the regular-season opener after testing positive for COVID-19.
The Arizona Cardinals have been extremely lucky thus far in 2021. To the delight of the team’s fans, the Redbirds will have the bulk of their roster available for the regular-season opener this coming Sunday.
But while injuries have not had a major effect on the Cards, COVID-19 can still rear its ugly head at any time. The organization found that out firsthand on Friday when the virus eliminated one of their wide receivers from the upcoming clash with the Tennessee Titans.
Antoine Wesley, a surprise addition to this year’s Arizona squad, has tested positive for COVID-19. What exactly does that mean for the club’s passing attack this weekend?
Arizona Cardinals now have five healthy wideouts for their week-one matchup
Wesley’s absence from the Titans game should not have a profound effect on head coach Kliff Kingsbury’s “Air Raid” offense. Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray will still have pass-catchers such as DeAndre Hopkins, A.J. Green, Christian Kirk, Rondale Moore, and Andy Isabella at his disposal. While Wesley is certainly loaded with potential, the youngster would have to be considered the least important member of the Redbirds’ receiving corps.
Kingsbury is familiar with Wesley from the three campaigns (2016-18) they spent together at Texas Tech University. The 6-foot-4, 206-pounder was retained by the Cards, while other capable wideouts were either let go (KeeSean Johnson) or placed on the practice squad (Greg Dortch) by the front office.
Back in 2018, Wesley hauled in 88 passes for 1,410 yards and nine touchdowns in 12 appearances for the Red Raiders. The Las Vegas native was named an All-American following that outstanding performance.
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In other Cardinals news, the franchise announced that outside linebacker Dennis Gardeck will also miss the matchup with the Titans. The 6-foot, 232-pounder suffered a hand injury on Thursday, and it’s not yet known how long he’ll be out. Gardeck is already battling back from the torn ACL that ended his 2020 campaign last December.