Mack Wilson Sr. won’t have to watch this one from the sideline.
The Arizona Cardinals linebacker missed the Seahawks’ 44-22 win over his team on Nov. 9 last season, and he’s heading into this weekend’s NFC West matchup with a little extra edge after Arizona’s 26-14 win over the Los Angeles Chargers last Sunday.
That victory gave the Cardinals defense a clean lift heading into Week 2, and Wilson is looking to carry that momentum straight into a date with Seattle. Arizona needed just 31 tackles to handle the Chargers, which left the unit well rested for what comes next.
Seattle’s offense didn’t exactly light things up against the New England Patriots in Week 1, and Cardinals defensive coordinator Nick Rallis may already have spent plenty of time on that tape. Seahawks rookie running back Jadarian Price finished with 52 yards on 10 carries, while Seattle was forced to punt five times. The Seahawks did escape with the win after a late interception of Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, and reserve quarterback Drew Locke also drew credit for his part in the result.
Wilson’s absence against Seattle last year left a hole that won’t be there in 2026, and the Cardinals also have reason to believe they can answer back without former running back Kenneth Walker III in the picture. Wilson and safety Budda Baker will be among the players with plenty of motivation to make life uncomfortable for their division rivals.
Arizona is trying to stay in the thick of what figures to be a highly competitive NFC West race, and this weekend at State Farm Stadium gives them a chance to do just that - while maybe leaving Seahawks fans with a bad taste for a while.
In Other News...
Cardinals Home Opener Suddenly Hinges On A Growing Injury Problem
The Cardinals went into the week hoping to settle into a cleaner picture for their first home game, but the final injury report left plenty unresolved. Slot cornerback Garrett Williams will miss a second straight game, and Arizona has six more players listed as questionable heading into the Week 2 matchup with Seattle, including starting guards Isaiah Adams and Isaac Seumalo along with nose tackles Roy Lopez and Andrew Billings.
That kind of uncertainty matters even more in a home opener, when the margin for a fast start can be thin and continuity up front is everything. Seattle brought its own questions into the game, with quarterback Sam Darnold ruled out and several other players still in question, so a lot of the focus now shifts from the matchup itself to who actually makes it onto the field when the Cardinals kick off in front of their home crowd. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Fans Will Notice One Big Change At State Farm Stadium
State Farm Stadium is getting a fresh gameday menu for the 2026 season, and Cardinals fans will have plenty to chew on before kickoff. Executive Chef Sean Kavanaugh and Craft Culinary Concepts are rolling out a new lineup of items for the teams nine home games, with dishes spread across specific sections of the stadium so the changes should be hard to miss.
The menu leans into variety, from the Beef Birria Machete quesadilla and BBQ Brisket Burger to a Sonoran Style Seattle Dog, along with gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian options. For a fan base that spends a lot of time thinking about what happens on the field, this is the kind of off-field upgrade that can shape the whole game-day experience, even if the bigger rollout still leaves room for more to come. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Have A Halftime Problem That Could Decide Seahawks Game
Through one half in Seattle, the Cardinals have been right where they need to be on the scoreboard, tied 7-7 in a game that has already exposed some familiar stress points. Arizona has gotten useful snaps from both sides of the ball, but the bigger issue has been control at the line of scrimmage, where the run game and run support have not consistently matched the moment against a divisional opponent.
The second half may come down to whether Arizona leans into a heavier look and tries to change the flow before the Seahawks do. Using more 13 personnel and tight end-heavy packages could help the Cardinals steady the front, tighten up their offense, and keep the game from being decided by the same kind of trench battle that has already made this one feel like a toss-up. [Read more 🡒]