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Arizona Cardinals are giving Andy Isabella another chance to shine

By Jim Koch

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - AUGUST 27: Andy Isabella #17 of the Arizona Cardinals on the sidelines during a preseason game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on August 27, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans defeated the Cardinals 26-23. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - AUGUST 27: Andy Isabella #17 of the Arizona Cardinals on the sidelines during a preseason game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on August 27, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans defeated the Cardinals 26-23. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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The Arizona Cardinals are hoping to get some payback on the second-round draft pick they used on Andy Isabella back in 2019.

Since the Arizona Cardinals drafted him three years ago, wide receiver Andy Isabella’s stint with the organization can be best described as a mystery. The second-round draft pick out of the University of Massachusetts seemed to be a natural fit for the “Air Raid” attack, the Cards’ brand-new offensive system that was being installed by Kliff Kingsbury.

Unfortunately, Isabella has been an underachieving NFL wideout who many believed would be playing with a different team this coming fall. When final cuts were announced this past Tuesday, Isabella was not among the players who were handed their walking papers by the Cardinals.

An outstanding summer by the pass-catcher convinced Kingsbury and his assistants to hang onto the 25-year old speedster. Could this be the season that the Redbirds finally reap the rewards on the disappointing Isabella?

Arizona Cardinals are hoping for better numbers out of Andy Isabella in 2022

As a rookie back in 2019, Isabella tallied just nine receptions in 15 appearances (one start) for Arizona. On the positive side, the 5 foot 9, 188 pounder totaled 189 receiving yards, for a sparkling average of 21 yards per catch. The highlight of the campaign for Isabella was his explosive 88-yard touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers in week nine.

Isabella’s production increased in 2020, when he hauled in 21 passes for 224 receiving yards and two scores. However, the Ohio native was credited with just one reception for 13 yards in the eight matchups he appeared in for the Cards in 2021.

Obviously, those numbers will have to improve going forward. Isabella’s best opportunity for success should come in the early part of the year, when DeAndre Hopkins serves his six-game suspension for a failed drug test.

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This season could be the last chance for the much-maligned receiver to prove his worth to the Cardinals hierarchy. If his impressive preseason was any indication, Isabella is well on his way to an outstanding performance in 2022.

(Statistics provided by Pro-Football-Reference)

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