7 months agoArizona Cardinals quarterback Clayton Tune is set to be the second string option behind Kyler Murray to start the season. This news was expected after quarterback Desmond Ridder was cut by the team earlier this week. Ridder was later signed to the practice squad, but it appears the Cardinals feel comfortable with Tune as the second option going forward. The fifth-round pick completed 12-of-21 passing attempts for zero touchdowns and two interceptions in seven appearances last season. If Murray goes down, it's tough to imagine Tune having any kind of fantasy value as the starter.Source: Tyler Drake
8 months agoThe Arizona Cardinals are re-signing quarterback Desmond Ridder (concussion) to their practice squad on Wednesday, according to sources. Ridder returns to the desert just a day after he was waived as the Cardinals cut their roster down to 53 players. The 24-year-old signal-caller failed to prove to the Atlanta Falcons that he was their franchise QB in his two seasons, and now he'll enter the 2024 regular season as the QB3 in Arizona behind Kyler Murray and Clayton Tune. The former second-rounder out of Cincinnati is no longer on the fantasy radar in single-year leagues after completing only 64% of his 503 pass attempts in his two years in Atlanta while throwing for 3,544 yards, 14 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. In addition to his 12 picks, Ridder was turnover-prone with 15 total fumbles, including 12 in 2023.Source: Bleacher Report - Jordan Schultz
8 months agoThe Arizona Cardinals released running back Michael Carter on Tuesday. Carter was clinging to a roster spot behind James Conner, Trey Benson, Emari Demercado, and DeeJay Dallas. Carter joined the Cardinals in the middle of the 2023 season and recorded 22 carries for 149 yards and no touchdowns in six games with the team. He was unlikely to factor into the offense in 2024 despite a solid preseason.Source: Ian Rapoport
8 months agoThe Arizona Cardinals released quarterback Desmond Ridder (concussion) on Tuesday, according to a source. Ridder, who was put in the league's concussion protocol after the preseason finale against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, had been in a competition with Clayton Tune for the backup job behind Kyler Murray this summer. That job will obviously fall to Tune now to begin the 2024 regular season. The Cardinals acquired Ridder in an offseason trade in March with the Atlanta Falcons after the 24-year-old failed to deliver in two seasons in Atlanta. The former second-rounder in 2022 out of Cincinnati struggled with turnovers in his 19 games (17 starts) while also completing 64% of his 503 pass attempts for 3,544 yards, 14 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. If Ridder doesn't join Arizona's practice squad, he'll look for backup work elsewhere.Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
8 months agoArizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon said that backup quarterback Desmond Ridder (head) is in the league's concussion protocol after he was forced from the preseason finale on Sunday against the Denver Broncos early due to a head injury. Before Ridder left the contest at Empower Field, he went 10-for-16 passing for 111 yards and carried the ball twice for 25 yards. In his first year in Arizona, the 24-year-old is expected to open the year as the primary backup to starter Kyler Murray. However, if he cannot clear the concussion protocol in time for the Week 1 regular-season opener versus the Buffalo Bills on Sept. 8, it will be Clayton Tune backing up Murray. The former third-rounder quickly fell out of favor with the Atlanta Falcons in 19 games over two seasons, mainly due to turnover issues and overall mediocre performances.Source: AZCardinals.com - Darren Urban
8 months agoArizona Cardinals running back Tony Jones (shoulder) took seven carries for 29 yards in Sunday's preseason finale. He also caught two passes for 14 yards. The Cardinals went to the fourth-year veteran early and often, getting Jones a touch on five of their first seven offensive plays. Jones was knocked out of his final audition for the team early when he suffered a shoulder injury after getting tackled in the second quarter. Broncos linebacker Justin Strnad's blow also knocked the ball out of Jones's possession, the first of two red-zone turnovers committed by Arizona in the game. James Conner is locked in as the Cardinals' starting running back with rookie Trey Benson drafted to be his understudy. Even if Jones makes the final 53-man roster on Tuesday, he will not have the opportunity to provide fantasy value and can be ignored.Source: NFL.com
8 months agoArizona Cardinals wide receiver Xavier Weaver led the team with 56 receiving yards in Sunday's loss to the Denver Broncos. The undrafted rookie reached that mark on just two catches on four targets. Weaver gained 43 yards on his first reception of that game, tumbling to the ground in order to reel in the deep pass. The Colorado product also handled two kickoffs and two punt returns for a total of 81 yards. In the wake of Zay Jones's recent suspension, Weaver may have an easier time making the final roster on Tuesday. Managers in leagues that count return yards might want to keep an eye on how the Cardinals use Weaver should he make the team, otherwise he can be ignored in fantasy drafts.Source: NFL.com
8 months agoArizona Cardinals running back Hassan Hall led the team in rushing attempts and yardage in Sunday's loss to the Denver Broncos. Hall was given 19 carries and rushed for 59 yards and a touchdown. He also had four receptions for another 28 yards through the air. Hall also showed a penchant for blocking, on one play intercepting a blitzing safety then popping up to throw to more blocks ahead of a scrambling Clayton Tune. Hall's solid performance in the preseason finale might have earned him a spot on Arizona's final roster. Even if he makes the cut, he will be buried on the Cardinals' depth chart.Source: NFL.com
8 months agoArizona Cardinals quarterback Clayton Tune went 12-for-18 for 119 passing yards and an interception in Sunday's preseason loss to the Denver Broncos. Tune drew the start and was swapped out for Desmond Ridder at halftime. Unfortunately, Ridder was forced to exit with a head injury late in the fourth quarter, requiring Tune to resume signal-calling duties. On Tune's first play back, he gave up an interception that linebacker Levelle Bailey returned 94-yards for a touchdown. Assuming Tune makes the final roster on Tuesday, he will merely be Kyler Murray's backup and can be dismissed in fantasy drafts.Source: NFL.com
8 months agoArizona Cardinals defensive end Darius Robinson (calf) could miss multiple weeks after injuring himself during practice on Thursday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. There's a real chance that Robinson, a rookie, could be placed on injured reserve. Such a transaction would leave Robinson off the field for the first four weeks of the regular season. That's a crushing blow for the first-round lineman who recently drew the praise of head coach Jonathan Gannon and was expected to be a major contributor on defense this season. Robinson tallied 43 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, and 8.5 sacks during his final season at Missouri last year.Source: Ian Rapoport
8 months agoArizona Cardinals rookie third-round tight end Tip Reiman has established himself as a potential No. 2 option at tight end for the Cardinals behind budding superstar Trey McBride. Reiman was mostly known for his blocking as an NFL draft prospect, but he has showcased his receiving skills during training camp and the preseason. His versatility will help him get on the field sooner than later in his rookie campaign. The 22-year-old can be ignored by fantasy managers in single-year leagues. The 6-foot-5, 271-pounder from Illinois will mostly be asked to do the dirty work as a blocker in his first year in the NFL. It's encouraging that he's shown some interesting pass-catching chops in camp, but don't expect Reiman to be much of a factor through the air in 2024.Source: ESPN.com - Josh Weinfuss
8 months agoArizona Cardinals rookie third-round running back Trey Benson has improved each week during training camp and the preseason and is showing that he's slowly but surely adjusting to the NFL game. Benson might now start the season as the RB2 behind starter James Conner, but ESPN's Josh Weinfuss doesn't think it will take him long to ascend to that spot. The 22-year-old from Florida State carried the ball nine times for 43 yards in last weekend's preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts and has gotten extra reps in camp with Emari Demercado dealing with a shoulder injury. There were some injury concerns with Benson coming out of college, but if he manages to stay healthy in 2024, the full expectation is that he'll be Conner's direct backup sooner than later. In fantasy drafts, look to use a late-round flier on him if you choose Conner earlier on.Source: ESPN.com - Josh Weinfuss
8 months agoIt hasn't taken Arizona Cardinals rookie first-round wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. to establish himself as the WR1 with his new team. By the time the Cardinals broke minicam in June, Harrison, the fourth overall pick back in April, was already seen in that role by both his teammates and the coaching staff. Since then, he's solidified his spot as the WR1 and perhaps the second-most important player (behind quarterback Kyler Murray) in this offense. The 22-year-old is expected to be the one person in the Cardinals' offense runs through and the option Murray looks to in "gotta have it" moments. The expectations for Harrison are massive for both the Cardinals and fantasy managers. If Murray stays healthy, it's easy to see how Harrison will slot in as an easy top-10 fantasy wideout when all is said and done in 2024.Source: ESPN.com - Josh Weinfuss
8
months
agoThe
NFL
has
suspended
Arizona
Cardinals
wide
receiver
Zay
Jones
for
the
first
five
games
of
the
season
due
to
violating
the
league's
personal
conduct
policy.
The
suspension
follows
a
misdemeanor
domestic
battery
charge
from
his
time
with
the
Jaguars
last
season,
which
theread more...
8 months agoArizona Cardinals quarterback Clayton Tune will start the team's preseason game against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, indicating that he has a lead over Desmond Ridder for the backup QB spot behind Kyler Murray. Ridder was dealt to the Cardinals in March in exchange for wide receiver Rondale Moore, but he's fighting for a roster spot if the team does not keep three quarterbacks. Tune, a fifth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, threw for 62 yards, no touchdowns, and two interceptions in one start last year. Fantasy managers in Superflex or two-QB leagues should monitor the backup competitions around the league, as any QB2 could become a starter and enter the fantasy football radar if injuries take place.Source: NFL.com