Cardinals limping to the end of a forgettable 2023 season, prepare for trip to Philadelphia
Kyler Murray's midseason return to the football field gave the Arizona Cardinals a brief boost of adrenaline.
Less than two months later, that feeling is long gone.
Now the Cardinals have reverted back to a team that will be quickly forgotten once the 2023 season ends. They're not very talented, not very deep and not winning a whole lot of games as the regular-season schedule slowly comes to a close.
The latest disappointment came on Sunday, when the Cardinals (3-12) fell into a 21-point hole against the Chicago Bears before rallying to cut the deficit to 24-16. The Bears eventually held on for a 27-16 victory.
If all of this sounds familiar, it's because it is.
Arizona's fans might be tired of hearing it, but first-year coach Jonathan Gannon isn't tired of praising his team's effort.
“Not at all, because it’s the truth,” Gannon said. “I know they fight, I know they battle, I know they prepare the right way. Just got to help them out and we’ve got to coach and play better.”
Gannon's being diplomatic with those comments. The coaching staff might have had some tough moments, but no more than a typical first-year staff. It's hard to see how any NFL coach could do a much better job with this group.
The real fixes for the Cardinals won't come until this offseason, when general manager Monti Ossenfort has 11 draft picks in April and a decent amount of cap space to start building a roster that could compete in 2024 and 2025. The only real positive of the two games remaining this season is that it gives more opportunities for Murray to get used to his new offense.
Murray returned from an ACL tear in his right knee in November. The Cardinals have a 2-4 record since his return. The quarterback completed 24 of 38 passes for 230 yards and two touchdowns against the Bears.
“Everyone knows the situation we’re in as far as our record and stuff like that,” Murray said. "But I’ve seen no quit as far as the urgency goes. Everybody — team full of grinders. Work hard throughout the week. Understand what we’re about, what we’re trying to be about around here.
“Moving forward, I think the mindset is right.”
WHAT’S WORKING
Kicker Matt Prater continues to make long field goals look easy. Against the Bears, he nailed one from 55 yards to cut the Bears' lead to 21-10 in the second quarter. He's 9 of 11 on field goals from at least 50 yards this season, giving the Cardinals a much-needed option since the offense hasn't always been able to move the ball consistently.
WHAT NEEDS WORK
There aren't many big-play threats on the Cardinals' roster these days. Tight end Trey McBride and running back James Conner have been the most reliable playmakers over the past few weeks, particularly with receiver Marquise Brown dealing with a heel injury.
“I felt like we made plays here and there, whether it was me or any of us out there on the offense,” Murray said. “I guess as a unit, the standard, we have to play better.”
STOCK UP
WR Greg Dortch continues to be perhaps the most underrated player on the team's roster. He made two nice plays against the Bears, including a 40-yard kickoff return and a 38-yard catch for a touchdown.
STOCK DOWN
Rookie WR Michael Wilson had a great start to the season, but his production has plummeted since he dealt with a midseason shoulder injury. He has no catches the past two games despite being targeted seven times. The long-term future is still bright for Wilson, who is 6-foot-2, 213 pounds and gives the Cardinals some much-needed size on the edge.
INJURIES
DL Jonathan Ledbetter (knee) is done for the season after getting hurt against the Bears. He joins a beat-up defensive line. Carlos Watkins, Leki Fotu and L.J. Collier are all already out. Rookie CB Garrett Williams (knee) could play this weekend against the Eagles.
KEY NUMBER
80 — That's how many field goals of at least 50 yards that Prater has made during his career. It's easily the most in NFL history. The next closest is Sebastian Janikowski, who made 58 of them from 2000 to 2018.
NEXT STEPS
The Cardinals play their final road game of the season on Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles. It's a homecoming for Gannon, who was the Eagles defensive coordinator for the past two seasons.
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