Arizona Cardinals hoping to have fuller offensive arsenal after mini bye

The Arizona Cardinals have 9 days to relaxation, get well and work in a brand new weapon till their Week 8 matchup with the Minnesota Vikings on Oct. 30.

The Cardinals bested the New Orleans Saints 42-34 on Thursday Evening Soccer, their first victory on TNF within the Kliff Kingsbury-Kyler Murray period, doing so with a a number of shifting items, particularly on offense.

Arizona performed with a banged up offensive line and backfield with beginning operating again James Conner (ribs) and heart Rodney Hudson (knee) out. Plus, the Cardinals labored in newly acquired receiver Robbie Anderson on a brief week.

DeAndre Hopkins carried out in his first sport since December 2021 after coming back from suspension, and Marquise Brown missed his first contest this season on injured reserve with a foot difficulty.

With a while to breathe earlier than taking the sphere subsequent, Kingsbury is hoping to have a extra full arsenal at his disposal in Minnesota.

“With the prolonged time we now have for the following sport, getting Robbie on top of things on some stuff, getting Hop again on top of things, getting a few of these guys wholesome, o-linemen wholesome, James hopefully is again by subsequent Sunday, we’ll have a extra full array of weapons on offense,” Kingsbury mentioned.

Murray mentioned the Cardinals deliberate to huddle up extra for Thursday’s sport than going up tempo and utilizing hand alerts to keep away from pre-snap penalties given the brand new items. The Cardinals began a brand new heart in Billy Worth — who crammed in for the Hudson and performed over Sean Harlow — and relied on left guard Cody Ford in his workforce debut– who stepped up after Max Garcia went down within the first quarter.

Garcia began for Justin Pugh, who was positioned on injured reserve this week.

“I feel it benefited among the guys, particularly since Hop hasn’t been enjoying with us,” Murray mentioned. “Getting Robbie in there, Billy was new heart tonight, simply attempting to get everyone on the identical web page. I assumed we did properly.”

Arizona was known as for 2 false begins, one by Worth.

Anderson, in the meantime, slotted in on the Y and acquired one goal on a go-ball, which fell incomplete.

Murray mentioned it’s robust to contain a brand new weapon on a brief week and has confidence Anderson will get going with a bigger function in Week 7 and going ahead.

The Cardinals traded with the Carolina Panthers for Anderson on Monday.

Anderson will get the possibility to work by means of extra of the playbook, giving Kingsbury elevated choices when his offense subsequent traces up.