The Cardinals are getting a body back up front at the right time.
Arizona is activating offensive guard Isaiah Adams off injured reserve for its Week 9 trip to face the Seattle Seahawks, a move that comes after Adams’ 21-day practice window was opened this week. He has been sidelined since Week 4 with an ankle injury, and he is expected to step right back in as the starter at right guard in Seattle.
That matters for a Cardinals offensive line that has been taking hits almost every week. Left tackle Jayden Williams is out, and with quarterback Gardner Minshew now in the starting role, Arizona is trying to steady an offense that has been forced to keep adjusting on the fly.
The Cardinals also made a pair of practice-squad elevations for the game, bringing up tight end Shawn Bowman and running back Jerome Ford. Bowman will serve as Arizona’s TE4, while Ford will back up Tyler Allgeier and Evan Hull in the backfield.
It’s been a constant shuffle for the Cardinals in the trenches, and Adams’ return at least gives them another option inside. He hasn’t exactly lit it up when he’s been on the field, but with Jon Gaines II also out this week, Arizona gets some added help in the middle.
The matchup itself is a tough one. The Cardinals haven’t beaten the Seahawks in their last ten tries, and Seattle’s 31-7 win over Arizona in Week 2 is still hanging over this rematch.
“Just go play each play," Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur said this week.
“Let’s prepare just like we would any other week. We have a great opponent and let’s have a great Wednesday and be where our feet are.
If we look too far ahead, which looking too far ahead for me is Sunday, we know what kind of challenge this is going to be. We’re going into a hostile environment against arguably the best defense in football and an offense that we know firsthand can score points, but right now we’re just focused on our prep.”
Minshew echoed that respect for Seattle’s defense and for head coach Mike Macdonald.
“They’re great. I’ve played against (Seahawks Head Coach) Mike (Macdonald) a few times, even going back (to back) in the day,” Minshew said this week.
“Always a challenge. They have a lot they can throw at you.
They’ve been very good. They’ve been great this year.
It’ll be a great challenge and one that we’re fired up for.”
What happens in Seattle could also shape how the Cardinals approach the trade deadline, making this more than just another road game on the schedule.
In Other News...
Cardinals Win Looks Even Better After What Followed For Dallas
The Cardinals overtime win over Dallas already carried plenty of weight in the standings and in the locker room, but the aftermath has only made it look more costly for the Cowboys. What followed was a wave of NFL discipline tied to the kind of sloppy, undisciplined play that can swing a tight game, and it added another layer to a loss Arizona had every reason to savor.
Three Cowboys players were fined for hits in that game, including helmet-to-helmet and unnecessary roughness violations that drew league attention after the fact. One of those plays left Cardinals running back Bam Knight in concussion protocol, while the others involved contact on Gardner Minshew and a hit in overtime, a rough finish that fit a broader pattern for Dallas as one of the league's most penalized teams this season. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Interest In Trey McBride Just Put Cardinals On The Spot
The trade deadline chatter around Trey McBride has only sharpened the spotlight on what he means to Arizona. Denver has been looking for more juice at tight end, with Evan Engrams contract set to expire after the season, and McBrides rise has made him exactly the kind of player other teams would at least call about. For the Cardinals, it is another reminder that one of their most valuable pieces has become a leaguewide talking point.
McBride has been central to Arizonas passing game this year, and interest from a contender only underscores how hard he would be to replace. The Cardinals have already made their stance clear by turning away Denvers inquiry, but the attention around him figures to linger as the deadline approaches and teams keep searching for impact help. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Face One Big Test After Their Quarterback Shakeup
The quarterback switch in Arizona has already changed the feel around the offense, and now the Cardinals have to show whether it can hold up against a tougher test. Gardner Minshew gives them a different look than Carson Brissett did, and the early returns have been encouraging for a team trying to steady itself through injuries and the usual growing pains of a first-year head coach.
Week 9 against Seattle now looms as the real measuring stick. The Seahawks bring a defense that can force an offense to earn everything, and the way they game plan for Minshew will say plenty about where Arizona stands after the shakeup. The Cardinals have found a little momentum, but this matchup will go a long way toward showing whether it is real. [Read more 🡒]