Arizona Cardinals’ Kelvin Beachum shares his love for volunteering
Arizona Cardinals’ Kelvin Beachum spoke about how it is a blessing to volunteer in the community, especially around the holidays.
Wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. returned to practice after missing two games due to an appendectomy.Receiver Michael Wilson is expected to maintain a significant role after a two-game stretch with 25 catches for 303 yards.
Amid their continued injury onslaught, the Arizona Cardinals are full of intrigue at the skill positions.
Jacoby Brissett is entrenched at quarterback for the time being, with Kyler Murray still working through his rehab, but there is uncertainty at both running back and wide receiver.
Here are the latest updates:
Marvin Harrison Jr. returns to practice
Harrison returned to practice in the Cardinals’ first session of the week, on Wednesday, Nov. 26. Harrison had not practiced since undergoing an appendectomy on Nov. 10, which has also forced him out of the past two games.
Harrison was not wearing a yellow no-contact jersey and went through all drills during the portion of practice open to reporters.
“When he’s physically and mentally healthy enough to play, he’ll play,” head coach Jonathan Gannon said earlier in the week.
Michael Wilson’s role
Even if Harrison returns for the Cardinals’ Week 13 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Michael Wilson appears set to retain a larger role than he had before Harrison’s injury.
With Harrison out, Wilson has stepped into the top wide receiver role — and dominated. In those two games, he has 25 catches for 303 yards, the best two-game run for any wide receiver in the NFL this season.
On Monday, Nov. 24, Gannon was asked whether the Cardinals could tweak their offense to get Wilson more involved, even once Harrison is back.
“Yeah,” Gannon said. “Throw it to the guys that are making plays for you. Absolutely.”
Offensive coordinator Drew Petzing expanded on what that could look like.
“Move him around in the formation, continue to put him higher in the progression,” Petzing said. “Whether it’s in the run game or the pass game, when you produce in this league, we’re gonna give you more opportunities to continue to do that. I think that’s our job as coaches.”
Trey Benson injury latest
The Cardinals opened running back Trey Benson’s three-week practice window a week ago, on Nov. 19. But after logging three limited sessions, he was not yet ready to go last week against the Jaguars, with Gannon only saying that Benson looked “OK” in his return to the practice field.
That trend seemed to continue on Nov. 26.
Benson participated in all drills during the 15-minute portion of practice open to reporters but he did not appear fully comfortable doing so. After drills, he repeatedly shook his leg and reached for his injured knee, seemingly attempting to shake off discomfort.
Gannon did not have an update on Benson in his news conference before practice. Gannon will next meet with reporters on Friday, Nov. 28, his final session before Week 13’s game.
If Benson is not able to go, Bam Knight and Michael Carter will likely once again lead the backfield, as Emari Demercado (ankle) missed practice again on Nov. 26.
With the Cardinals forced to throw 50 times against the Jaguars, Carter — who is more of a pass-catching back — outsnapped Knight, 47 to 37. Knight, though, led the backfield with 10 carries to Carter’s five.