Murray, Hopkins questionable vs. 49ers
Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins will be game-time decisions as far as their availability Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers.
When the official injury report came out on Friday, both players were listed as questionable.
Coach Kliff Kingsbury’s only comment about the pair of stars was to repeat his stance from earlier this week that his starting quarterback and top wide receiver are “progressing” in rehabilitating their left ankle and hamstring injuries, respectively.
“I know he wants to play,” Kingsbury said about Murray. “He understands how important a division game is, and he’s playing at a really high level. We’ll just she how he feels. We’re not gonna put him out there unless he can function.”
As for Hopkins, Kingsbury said, “I don’t know if he’ll go full speed or not. But we’ll get him out there Sunday and see how he feels.”
Murray hurt his ankle during the Cardinals’ home loss to the Green Bay Packers on Oct. 28. He downplayed the injury to reporters that night, and two days ago said, “I’ll be good to go” following the Cardinals’ four-day break.
There has been speculation about backup QB Colt McCoy starting on Sunday. Kingsbury and the Cardinals (7-1) said earlier this week they have full confidence in him if necessary to replace Murray.
Hopkins entered the Cardinals-Packers matchup dealing with his hamstring injury, and played limited minutes during the first, third and fourth quarters.
Jones’ COVID-19 silver lining
Chandler Jones said he feels good after he was activated from the Reserve/ COVID-19 list on Oct. 25, and played in the Cardinals’ loss to Packers.
Jones, who is vaccinated, said his symptoms seemed like a stomach bug. He still doesn’t have his sense of taste or smell, he lost seven pounds and is two pounds away from his regained weight goal of between 255 and 260 he had entering the regular season.
But he said he feels faster from his weight loss, which is “very advantageous” for sacks coming from the edge.
Jones said he’s isn’t frustrated about not recording a sack since he got five in the Cardinals season-opening win over the Tennessee Titans. Although, he would be “pulling his hair out” if he didn’t have that record-setting performance.
He believes the Cardinals haven’t dealt with a dropback-style quarterback team since Titans’ Ryan Tannehill, that “sacks comes in bunches” and “if you watch the game, I’m getting to the quarterback.”
Jones also described how he plans to help stop the 49ers run game.
“They have a lot of moving gaps,” Jones said. “And what that means is that, for the most part, when you have a lot of motions and pullers, and guys running laterally, you have to keep your eyes on your man or your assignment because it could change within a split second.”
More coaches in COVID protocols
The Cardinals continue to be entangled by the coronavirus.
After Friday’s practice, the Cardinals announced that assistant coach/special teams coordinator Jeff Rodgers, running backs coach James Saxon and assistant offensive line coach Brian Natkin will not travel with the team to San Francisco as they enter COVID protocols.
Assistant special teams coach Devin Fitzsimmons will handle Rodgers’ special teams responsibilities while duties of the other two assistants will be assumed by other offensive coaching staff members.
That marks five Cardinals’ COVID cases this week since their WR A.J. Green and TE Demetrius Harris were placed on the COVID list on Wednesday. It also extends their NFL-high to 28 since training camp began on July 23.
Kingsbury mum on Watt’s status
Following the Cardinals’ loss to Packers, Kingsbury said J.J. Watt was expected to have shoulder surgery this week. But on Friday, Kingsbury avoided answering whether the defensive end’s surgery was still pending or already happened.
“I won’t comment on that but I know he’s back in town,” Kingsbury said.
Watt didn’t play against the Packers after he was reportedly set to have potential season-ending surgery on the shoulder he injured during Arizona’s home win over the Houston Texans on Oct. 24.
However, Watt hasn’t been placed on the Reserve/Injured list, and many believe he’s awaiting a possible second opinion to possibly return later this season. He’d miss three games if he were to be put on IR.
Ertz earns community award
The NFL Player’s Association on Friday honored Zach Ertz as its Community MVP of the Week.
The Cardinals starting tight end earned the award for his charity work in Arizona and Philadelphia, where he played nearly nine years for the Eagles before they traded him on Oct. 15.
The NFLPA plans to donate $10,000 to Ertz’s foundation or the charity of his choice. and he’ll be eligible for the Alan Page Community Award after this season.
Ertz is handing out 5,000 meals to Arizona food banks for every touchdown he scores for the remainder of this season.
He and his Mesa-raised wife Julie donated $100,000 in Philadelphia, matched by their foundation to support the House of Hope project.
That involves remodeling and renovating a building for a safe space featuring social services and resources, a kitchen for free daily meals, and academic enrichment programs for 500 Philadelphia youth weekly.