The Arizona Cardinals’ first depth chart of the season already delivered a few surprises, and the biggest one came on the defensive line. Former first-round pick Robinson is behind Dante Stills, a move that sends a clear message entering Robinson’s third season.
It’s not hard to see why the Cardinals might be leaning that way. Stills has been one of the more steady pieces in the trenches, while Robinson has spent much of his time in camp flashing the kind of backfield disruption that has yet to consistently carry over into games. He was drafted with big expectations, but that production has been slow to match the billing.
There’s also context around Robinson that matters. He dealt with early injuries and off-field loss during his rookie season, so this isn’t simply a case of a player being written off. Still, Arizona’s decision to put Stills ahead of him is notable, especially with Robinson built like a Greek statue and still viewed as someone who can offer more.
Another eye-opener came at cornerback. Williams returned from his Achilles injury earlier than expected after being activated from the PUP list and practicing with the Cardinals over the last few weeks, but the team placed him behind Max Melton, Will Johnson and Denzel Burke. That looks tied to health and a desire to bring him along carefully.
The Cardinals also opted not to keep Williams on PUP, which would have cost him the first four games of the season. Instead, they seem to be taking the slower route without sidelining him from the start.
At running back, Love is still working back from a high ankle sprain suffered in preseason and hasn’t fully practiced with the team in weeks. Head coach Mike LaFleur sounded upbeat about Love’s chances to play this week, but Allgeier is the one expected to handle most of the workload to open the season.
Linebacker brings its own twist. Gibbens and Simon are both expected to see the field, with LaFleur saying their usage will depend heavily on the game plan each week.
Simon had been getting most of the first-team reps for much of the offseason before Gibbens finished strong and made a push. For now, that was enough to earn the starter label, at least for this week.
Arizona now has a pair of athletic linebackers in Gibbens and Mack Wilson Sr. who can drop into coverage, which gives the defense some flexibility in the middle.
The Cardinals’ depth chart also shows just one spot marked with “or,” a sign that both players are considered starter-level options and the decision can swing week to week. That lone “or” is at outside linebacker, where Zaven Collins and Baron Browning are listed together. Collins is the better fit against the run, while Browning is the preferred option opposite Josh Sweat when passing downs demand more speed and pressure.
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Cardinals Captain Choices Just Revealed A New Locker Room Reality
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Head coach Mike LaFleur pointed to the leadership qualities of the group, and the mix itself is notable for what it suggests about the room around him. There is established presence, there is line-to-line responsibility, and there is a veteran core that has clearly earned the respect of the team, even as the Cardinals keep building toward what they want this season to become. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Backfield Plan Just Put Jeremiyah Love In A Tough Spot
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For Love, its a reminder that draft status alone does not guarantee an immediate lead role, especially in a backfield that already has a proven veteran in place. His placement leaves open the bigger question heading into Week 1: whether hell be active at all, and if so, how quickly he can force his way into a larger workload. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Camp Has One Encouraging Sign Fans Still Need To Monitor
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There is still one storyline worth watching, though, because the Cardinals are not fully healthy yet. Running back Jeremiyah Love is still working back from a high-ankle sprain, and his progress will be part of the bigger evaluation as camp moves forward. Arizona can feel good about the energy around its receivers, but the rest of the offense still has to prove it can stay on track when the pads come on and the real tests begin. [Read more 🡒]