Cards announcer returns to his native Mexico City
Luis Hernández has been back to his native Mexico City many times since moving to Arizona and becoming the Arizona Cardinals’ Spanish language playby-play announcer. But this weekend and Monday will be perhaps most special of all of those trips, from a professional standpoint.
Hernandez is in Mexico City hosting events for Cardinals fans there over the next couple of days. Come Monday, he’ll be in the broadcast booth at iconic Estadio Azteca when the Cardinals face the San Francisco 49ers.
In April, Hernandez was in town for a promotional appearance, and announced a Cardinals draft pick from a viewpoint overlooking the city.
“It’s a dream come true,” Hernandez said. “I never imagined that one day I would announce a draft pick. Never, in my city where I grew up. I’ll always remember that moment and I’m grateful to the Cardinals for giving me the opportunity to do it.”
Hernandez grew up in a neighborhood near the downtown area of Mexico City. He attended many soccer matches at Estadio Azteca in his younger days, watching his favorite soccer team Club America play as well as Mexican national team matches.
In 1986 as a teenager, he attended a World Cup match when Mexico was the host nation.
His grandfather used to take him to games in the giant stadium.
“I never thought I would work one day at Estadio Azteca. It’s on my bucket list. I’ve never stepped on the field at Estadio Azteca,” Hernandez said. “I don’t know what I’m going to do. I’ve been waiting for that moment for years. It’s going to remind me of my childhood.”
Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingbury said quarterback Kyler Murray is progressing with recovery from a hamstring injury as he works to be available to play against the 49ers Monday.
Murray was limited in practice on Thursday and Friday. He looked to be running well.
Last week’s starter, Colt McCoy, has been limited with a knee injury from last week but could still get the call as the starter Monday if Murray is deemed unfit.
“Come a long way. So we’ll see, got a few more days. Playing on Monday night will help, the extra day. So we’ll see how he feels the next couple of days,” Kingsbury said.
“Just that he feels comfortable in full throttle, where if he’s got to take off and run, he can go full speed and he’s not thinking about it, not protecting himself,” Kingsbury added.
Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins took part in practice on Friday after missing Thursday with a hamstring issue. Kingsbury said Hopkins being out Thursday was more of a maintenance issue, and with he and wide receiver Hollywood Brown in practice Friday, there’s hope the two can take the field for the first time together this season.
Left tackle D.J. Humphries won’t play this week due to a back injury. Safety Budda Baker took part in Friday’s session after missing Thursday, and cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. did not practice.
Ingram’s Mexico memory
Cardinals running back Keaontay Ingram, a rookie, is slated for a backup role Monday in Mexico. On April 30, the Cardinals chose him with the 201st overall pick of the sixth round of the NFL Draft.
The selection was announced from Mexico City.
“It was a cool experience. My family was like, ‘does the team have something to do with Mexico?’” Ingram said Friday. “They didn’t know too much about the Arizona Cardinals at the time. But that was cool just to see that on TV. Now that I’m going to Mexico, I’m excited.”
Quick out
TE Maxx Williams is in line to be moved from the practice squad to the active roster this week, with Zach Ertz out for the season with a knee injury. “Obviously he knows the system,” Kingsbury said. “He’s trending that way.”