Arizona
Arizona Cardinals working smarter, not harder, with 2 games over 5 days
TEMPE — It’s a battle of attrition for the Arizona Cardinals this week.
Not lengthy after the matchup in opposition to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, the Cardinals are again in motion versus the New Orleans Saints on Thursday Evening Soccer.
It’s a fast turnaround each NFL staff has to face in some unspecified time in the future or one other in a given season.
With the quantity of soccer that’s going to be performed over the subsequent eight days and the present well being of the staff, it solely made sense for head coach Kliff Kingsbury to carry a walkthrough as a substitute of Arizona’s typical observe on Wednesday.
“I felt like we might use just a few psychological reps having all people on the market — even the blokes going via some nicks and issues like that,” Kingsbury mentioned Wednesday. “It was good to have all people out and actually element issues up.”
It’s not out of the norm in any respect to carry walkthrough days every now and then. The Philadelphia Eagles held one throughout their preparation for the Cardinals in Week 5.
They obtain two issues: nonetheless getting in football-related actions and limiting the workload for these preventing to get again to full energy, one thing the Cardinals have various.
One being beginning heart Rodney Hudson, who is taken into account each day and was a nonparticipant within the staff’s walkthrough on Wednesday. Hudson missed Week 5 with a knee concern.
Whereas it’s unknown how a lot the middle will observe this week, Kingsbury is assured in his skill to contribute to the offense if Hudson can get some form of work in late within the week.
“We wish him to really feel nice,” Kingsbury mentioned. “It’s an extended season. We actually struggled final yr when he went out and I felt like he was part of that deal offensively that we took a step again, however we need to be good. I believe it’s actually going to return right down to how he feels this weekend.”
The identical goes for working again James Conner. The lead again was knocked out of Cardinals’ loss to the Eagles with a ribs damage.
His standing is up within the air for Sunday however seems to be in a greater standing than the opposite banged up working backs on the roster, with Darrel Williams anticipated out this week with a knee concern and the Cardinals inserting Jonathan Ward on the injured reserve with a hamstring damage.
If there was ever every week to have a walkthrough, it’s this one.
“We received two video games in 9 days, so the most important factor is above-the-neck emphasis, particularly as a result of having two video games, the bodily side goes to have a toll on gamers,” security Budda Baker mentioned Wednesday.
“Kliff and the coaches are doing an incredible job of getting us recovered, rejuvenated and prepared for this week after which prepared for a brief week subsequent week.”