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Counting Snaps - Week 2 Vs L.A. Rams

Big win means starters get fourth-quarter rest

Every year it's interesting to see what players end up playing every snap of the season. Paris Johnson Jr. did it last year with the Cardinals. But the Cards are already down to one candidate -- left guard Evan Brown -- after their blowout win over the Rams. That's when happens when the Cards get a big lead and can empty the bench at the end of the game.

It did mean rookie safety Rabbit Taylor-Demerson got his first defensive snaps of his NFL career (8).

Otherwise, the Week 2 percentages didn't change considerably for the Cardinals.

Defensively, defensive backs Budda Baker, Garrett Williams, Sean Murphy-Bunting, and Jalen Thompson, in addition to inside linebacker Kyzir White all played 44 of a possible 52 defensive snaps to lead the Cards. The inside linebacker rotation was noteworthy with Mack Wilson Sr. (23) and Krys Barnes (20) close to the same amount of work, followed by Owen Pappoe (16).

In the secondary, behind the top four, Starling Thomas V had 35 snaps and rookie Max Melton -- showing no signs of his concussion issues -- had 25. Safety Joey Blount and cornerback Kei'Trel Clark joined Rabbit at the end of the game for eight snaps each.

On the defensive line, with one less option due to the healthy scratch of Dante Stills, Justin Jones again led the way (35 snaps), followed by Roy Lopez (22), Bilal Nichols (21), L.J. Collier (20), and Khyiris Tonga (15).

At outside linebacker, Dennis Gardeck (26) got the most snaps which was fitting on a day in which he had a career-best three sacks. Zaven Collins (23), Xavier Thomas (21), Julian Okwara (15) and Victor Dimukeje (11) were next in line.

On the offensive side of the ball, only Brown and right tackle Kelvin Beachum played all 66 snaps. The rest of the offensive line came out for the final six snaps when backup QB Clayton Tune came into the game in relief of Kyler Murray.

Tight end use was significant. Trey McBride (55) was heavily involved, but so too were Tip Reiman (38) and Elijah Higgins (36), each playing at least 55 percent of the snaps. At wide receiver, Marvin Harrison Jr. (46) had the most plays, just ahead of Michael Wilson (45), and then Greg Dortch (23), Chris Moore (9), and Zach Pascal (8).

James Conner again was in for more than 60 percent of the work (41), followed by Trey Benson (22) and Emari Demercado (7).

G Evan Brown
G Evan Brown
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