Indianapolis, IN
Trey Benson flashes potential in Cardinals' sloppy loss to Colts
INDIANAPOLIS — Arizona Cardinals rookie running back Trey Benson didn’t necessarily wow the crowd behind eight carries for 21 yards in his team’s preseason opener loss to the New Orleans Saints.
Seeing about the same number of touches in the Cardinals’ 21-13 loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday, Benson flashed his big-play potential and vision.
In just over a quarter of work, Benson averaged 4.8 yards per carry on his way to 43 yards on nine rushing attempts.
And it could have been much more.
Recording his fourth carry of the night, Benson nearly had a house call. After shaking multiple Colts defenders, the third-round pick turned up the field for a 19-yard gain. Had it not been for safety Nick Cross, Benson had a clear path to pay dirt.
It wasn’t only the Colts defenders Benson had to worry about, though.
On Benson’s final carry of the evening, the running back again made Colts defenders miss as he shifted his way 20 yards to Indianapolis’ two-yard line.
Unfortunately for Benson and the offense, his efforts were for naught thanks to a Christian Jones holding penalty. It was a tough series for Jones, who picked up three straight holding calls.
Benson, who entered the game listed as Arizona’s RB2 behind James Conner, won’t see the lost yardage on the stat sheet. He and the coaching staff will, however, see improved tape.
Much to clean up
While Jones was dinged for numerous penalties, he wasn’t the only one caught having mental lapses.
As a team, Arizona committed 11 penalties for 82 yards.
The sloppiness on display simply cannot happen if the Cardinals hope to improve their win-loss record from a year ago.
Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon on the team’s sloppiness throughout Saturday’s loss to the Colts:
“One of our modes of play is our brain and we didn’t use it tonight. … That falls on me and the coaches. We gotta get it cleaned up fast.” pic.twitter.com/Koz8eunD6Z
— Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) August 18, 2024
“I think it’s pretty self-explanatory. One of our modes of play is our brain and we didn’t use it tonight,” Gannon said. “That falls strictly on me.
“I thought we were ready to play physically, violence was on display, good effort and finish, but I just told them we’re not going to beat anybody making those kinds of mistakes and you can’t self-destruct and we did on all three phases. That falls on me and the coaches. We gotta get it cleaned up fast.”
Tune takes Round 2
For a second consecutive week, Clayton Tune outperformed Desmond Ridder, further solidifying his case for QB2.
Completing 80% of his throws (8-of-10) for 79 yards, Tune again looked comfortable operating the offense after getting the starting nod on Saturday.
He capped off a strong first half with a 12-yard touchdown run.
“I feel like I’ve put in some good work,” Tune said postgame. “There’s still work to be done. That’s my mindset. Go in, watch the tape, learn from it, come back next week ready to work and build on it.”
“I feel like I’m playing more on time, playing quicker, getting through my reads, seeing the defense and just being decisive,” the QB added.
Ridder on the other hand completed 60% of his passes (6-of-10) for 71 yards, though saw the majority of his yardage (42) come in the final series of the game.
A false start on Dennis Daley ended the drive and the game, leaving Ridder without another chance at finding the end zone.
“He had some good balls in there. I thought he made some plays with his legs,” Gannon said. “Would have liked to see the last play get off, but we couldn’t get it done.”
The Thomas twins
Saturday night was another strong showing from 2024 fifth-rounder Xavier Thomas.
Recording his second sack of the preseason along with two QB hits and a tackle for loss, Thomas had good pressure on Indianapolis signal callers.
It’s sack city up in here 🎉
📺: #AZvsIND on CBS | @atxlete pic.twitter.com/EYDUmZydy4
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) August 18, 2024
For someone who said their legs were shaking on the first play of the preseason opener against the Saints, Thomas is looking more at home and appears to be trending up the depth chart.
“Today I pretty much knew what to expect and things like that. It’s always good to get more comfortable,” Thomas said postgame.
The rookie wasn’t the only Thomas who stood out on Saturday.
Third-year pro Cameron Thomas was also a factor in the backfield, getting to quarterback Sam Ehlinger for a sack and pressuring fellow signal callers Jason Bean and Valley native Kedon Slovis on multiple occasions.
The Cardinals still have question marks surrounding their pass rush after projected starter BJ Ojulari went down with a reported torn ACL during training camp, ending his season before it began.
Could either Thomas find a more prominent role in the rotation? A strong showing next week in Denver could press the issue.
Aside for the Thomas twins, Victor Dimukeje was another name getting added pressure against the Colts and narrowly missed out on a pair of sacks.
Give me that!
Kei’Trel Clark and Dadrion Taylor-Demerson provided an added boost in Arizona’s secondary on Saturday, each forcing a turnover and flipping the field in the Cardinals’ favor.
Clark put the hammer down on wide receiver Anthony Gould to force a fumble in the waning moments of the first quarter.
The second-year pro flew around the football field for most of the night, a positive development in a cornerbacks room where roles are still up for grabs.
“I thought he looked violent, physical. He had a couple good coverages in there, forced the fumble,” Gannon said. “He looked good in there and he played two spots today, so it was good to see.”
It was Taylor-Demerson, better known as Rabbit, who had the play of the evening.
BEWARE: RABBIT ON THE LOOSE 🐰
📺: #AZvsIND on CBS | @DadrionT pic.twitter.com/yosmhhLDD7
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) August 18, 2024
With 1:51 left in the first half, Taylor-Demerson snagged a pass near the sideline intended for wide receiver D.J. Montgomery and managed to keep his feet inbounds.
Had it not been for the duo’s takeaways, the score would have looked a lot different in Gannon’s eyes behind the mountain of penalties.
Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon dives into Rabbit’s interception and how that and Kei’Trel Clark’s forced fumble kept his team in it despite the sloppiness on display: pic.twitter.com/KTkONtIi6H
— Cardinals Corner (@AZCardsCorner) August 18, 2024
“The takeaways were good. That’s the reason we stayed in the game,” Gannon said. “Without those takeaways, I think we get the brakes beat off of us, truthfully. I gotta watch the tape, but I know the interception was a phenomenal play. I thought he had a couple tackles in there. He looked good.”
Indianapolis, IN
Indianapolis Colts Injury Report: QB Richardson, G Nelson And Four Others All QUESTIONABLE
The Indianapolis Colts today released their Friday injury report for Week 17 of the NFL season ahead of their Sunday game against the New York Giants.
Quarterback Anthony Richardson has been listed as QUESTIONABLE for Sundays game against the Giants due to back and foot injuries. Richardson has been unable to practice all week with what the team has described as “soreness”. It sure looks like it will be a very long shot for Richardson to play Sunday so expect to see Joe Flacco at quarterback this weekend.
Tight end Mo Alie-Cox has been listed as QUESTIONABLE for Sundays game against the Giants due to a toe injury. Alie-Cox has managed just one practice this week and looks to be another game time de vision. He did practice similarly last week and manage to play but it still looks unlikely he will manage to play. If he is unable to play expect to see Will Mallory active in his place.
Linebacker EJ Speed has been listed as QUESTIONABLE for Sundays game against the Giants due to a knee injury. Speed has only practice once this week and had to miss last weeks game due to the same knee injury. Speed looks like he will be a game time decision but leaning more to being unavailable this Sunday. If he is unable to play expect another week of Grant Stuard.
Guard Quenton Nelson has been listed as QUESTIONABLE for Sundays game against the Giants due to an ankle injury. Nelson has practice all week but has been limited the last two days. Nelson rarely misses game time so expect him to play this Sunday but if he cannot go then it could be rookie Dalton Tucker in his place.
Linebacker Jaylon Carlies has been listed as QUESTIONABLE for Sundays game against the Giants due to a shoulder injury. Carlies has managed to practice twice this week although only once as a full participant. Carlies looks like he may be able to play but if not then the Colts could be very thin at linebacker this week.
Cornerback Juju Brents has been listed as QUESTIONABLE for Sundays game against the Giants due to a knee injury. Brents has practiced all week in a bid to make his return from injured reserve. It appears he may be finally activated this week and return to game time this Sunday.
Indianapolis, IN
Colts’ Shane Steichen Talks Anthony Richardson’s Status vs. Giants
Anthony Richardson hasn’t practiced this week, but Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen isn’t ready to rule him out for Sunday afternoon’s game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium.
Richardson, who is listed on the injury report with foot and back ailments, played throughout the Colts’ 38-30 victory over the Tennessee Titans last Sunday. However, Steichen told reporters on Friday that Richardson came out of the game feeling the injuries, and he’s been “really sore” all week. Steichen elaborated that it’s moreso Richardson’s back that’s been bothering him rather than the foot.
“We’ll see how the next 48 hours go,” Steichen said about Richardson’s availability this Sunday.
The Colts, who are still technically alive in the AFC playoff hunt, will be eliminated from contention if the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers both win on Saturday. “No matter what, we’re trying to go win a football game,” Steichen said when asked if Saturday’s results will affect whether or not Richardson plays.
If Richardson cannot play, Steichen confirmed it will be Joe Flacco getting the start at quarterback.
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Richardson missed Weeks 5 and 6 with an oblique injury earlier this season and then was benched in favor of Flacco for Weeks 9 and 10 before returning to the starting lineup in Week 11.
In 11 games this season, Richardson is 126-of-264 (47.7%) passing for 1,814 yards (6.9 YPA), 8 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions for passer rating of 61.6. He’s also carried the ball 86 times for 499 yards (5.8 avg.), and 6 touchdowns.
The Colts finish the season next Sunday, January 5 at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
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Indianapolis, IN
Wet and breezy Friday, Spring-Like Saturday ahead | Dec. 27, 2024
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Some areas could receive up to 1″ of precipitation through the end of the weekend.
This morning:
A few showers are already starting to work through the area very early this morning under mostly cloudy skies. Temperatures are hovering in the mid and upper 40s so far this morning.
Friday:
Clouds will continue to increase through the morning hours heading into midday. Scattered showers become a bit more widespread as we get later on into the morning hours. There will be some moderate pockets of rain from the midmorning to early afternoon hours. Once we head into the afternoon, we’ll see our chances of rain become a bit more spotty and lighter.
Meanwhile, winds will ramp up a bit with gusts as high as 30 mph.
High temperatures will top out into the mid-50s this afternoon.
Friday night:
Cloudy skies will continue as we head into the overnight hours with a few areas of light rain and drizzle. Temperatures are going to remain very mild with overnight lows into the upper 40s and lower 50s.
Weekend:
Saturday looks dry for the daytime hours with mostly cloudy skies. Temperatures will be very mild for this time of year. In fact, we could push close to a record high, which is 65°(1984). Saturday, we’ll see highs into the low to mid-60s across Central Indiana.
Showers will return as we head into your Saturday late evening, coming in from the south. Heaviest rainfall will occur during the overnight hours.
Scattered showers will look to continue on and off through much of our Sunday. Total rainfall amounts could push close to an inch of precipitation.
High temperatures will top out into the low to mid 50s on Sunday. In addition to the rain, look for winds to gust over 30 mph at times.
We will start off the New Year’s week dry on Monday with partly cloudy skies and highs around 50°. Another storm complex coming in on New Year’s Eve will bring widespread rain and gusty winds and highs into the upper 40s.
A big pattern shift moves in for the new year with a trough of colder air coming in from Canada. He will return to the 30s starting on Wednesday. There are some hints of some light snow showers possible for New Year’s Day.
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