3 Arizona Cardinals in the best position to end 2022 on a high note
By Sion Fawkes
It shouldn’t be all doom and gloom as we approach the final two weeks of the 2022 Arizona Cardinals season that has seen more downs than ups.
The Arizona Cardinals are entering the final two weeks of 2022 with a couple of meaningless games on the schedule. But there are a few players with something to play for, whether it is to achieve career highs, to take on a new challenge, or even to complete a turnaround.
We can name several players who fulfill that criteria, but there are three who stand out more than the others. Let’s meet them.
1 – James Conner
Has anyone on the Arizona Cardinals offense been more impressive than James Conner lately? Conner, whose play tanked earlier this season, has enjoyed a renaissance, averaging 4.8 yards per carry or more in three of his last four games.
Conner likely won’t break the 1,000-yard mark this year unless he has two elite outings. But if he can rush for at least 50 yards this week, he will have logged his highest rushing total since 2018.
2 – Greg Dortch
Dortch has been a revelation this season and he should have seen more playing time. But Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury mistakenly thought it was a good idea to bench him in favor of the injury-prone Rondale Moore.
When Moore predictably went down with yet another ailment, Dortch once again stepped up. In last week’s loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he logged 10 receptions on 11 targets for 98 yards. If he has performances that are even half of that, look for him to remain with the Redbirds in 2023.
3 – Isaiah Simmons
Perhaps the most improved player on the Arizona Cardinals defense this year, Simmons has a rare opportunity to show what he can do at safety. If he can take over the position, he will officially become the star backer the Redbirds envisioned earlier this season.
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Before 2022, Simmons had nothing but boom-or-bust performances. His play has since grown steady and has trended in the right direction. If that continues at safety, he will be poised for a huge season in 2023.
(Statistics provided by Pro-Football-Reference)
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