The Arizona Cardinals opened their practice week Wednesday for Sunday’s season opener against the Los Angeles Chargers and released their first injury report of the season.
Despite head coach Mike LaFleur saying before practice he didn’t see any “restrictions” this week for edge rusher Josh Sweat, who was removed from the active/physically unable to perform list on Aug. 24, he did not practice, partly for rest.
The full details are below. Starters are noted with an asterisk.
Did not participate
- *RG Isaiah Adams (knee)
- *OLB Josh Sweat (not injury related/rest/knee)
Adams has been out of practice since suffering the injury during training camp. If he is unable to play, Jon Gaines II is expected to be his replacement.
The real indication for Sweat will be how much he practices Thursday.
Limited participation
- RB Jeremiyah Love (ankle)
- S Dadrion Taylor-Demerson (ribs)
- CB Garrett Williams (Achilles)
Love suffered
a high-ankle sprain on Aug. 13 and has done little in practice since then. LaFleur said before practice Wednesday, “He’ll be ready to roll today and we’ll take it one day at a time.” Asked if he would be a full participant, LaFleur said, “I don’t exactly know what his listing is, but yeah, there’s no limit on our end.” Of course, he was limited.
LaFleur was also asked if Tyler Allgeier being listed on the depth chart ahead of Love means anything. He said, "You know the answer to that — no. But I appreciate the question, I really do. But don't look too far into that."
Williams, the team’s top slot corner, ruptured his Achilles in December and was taken off the active/PUP list on Aug. 20. LaFleur said, “We’re gonna take that all the way up until the weekend. We want to make sure he feels as good as he can. There’s a return to play and a return to performance and you've got to lean on the player for that second part. A guy like Garrett, he’s as real as they come. So if he’s ready to roll, he’ll be ready to roll. And if he needs a little bit more time, we’ll go that way.”
Even if he is able to play, it might not be for the full complement of slot snaps. Sean Murphy-Bunting worked in the slot during the offseason and preseason, but he was cut on Aug. 30. Second-year corner Denzel Burke got some work there over the last few weeks and will be the slot if Williams is inactive or limited. Will Johnson and Max Melton are the outside starters.
“I think all three are capable,” LaFleur said when asked about Burke. “I’m not going to limit them saying they’re not because well I haven’t seen Will do it, but I think if we trained him there, he would. But I think we just thought if we have to have the nickel pass coverage out there, what is the best way to go about it and that’s what we all thought. Keep Max and Will outside and Denzel inside. Three guys that you have a lot of trust in no matter where they’re at.
Taylor-Demerson suffered his injury in an Aug. 22 preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys.
Full participation
- P Blake Gillikin (right groin)
- *CB Will Johnson (ankle)
Chargers Wednesday injury report
Did not participate
- CB Deane Leonard (abdomen)
- *OLB Khalil Mack (not injury related/rest
Limited participation
- S RJ Mickens (ankle)
- RB Keaton Mitchell (hamstring)
- WR Brenen Thompson (hip)
- *OLB Tui Tuipulotu (hip)
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This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: Arizona Cardinals injury report: Jeremiyah Love limited
