Skip to main content
Animated graphic with red background and information about Jets @ Cardinals
Advertising

Arizona Cardinals Home: The official source of the latest Cardinals headlines, news, videos, photos, tickets, rosters and game day information

Friday before the Titans

Patrick Peterson is the Cardinals’ Man of the Year for a second time, but his time as a punt returner, well, "that stage of my career is over," he said. Not necessarily because he thinks he can't do it anymore, but it's not like the Cardinals are going to put him back there that much. He's too valuable as a cornerback.

Now, if you asked to go play offense? "That chapter is not over," Peterson said with a grin. "I'm going to leave that open, and I have a couple of blank pages for coach."

Peterson said he wishes he could play offense. "I'm an offensive guy at heart," he said. He wouldn't even mind quarterback, although that's not going to happen.

Catching a pass or two would be interesting. The Cardinals will be down John Brown Sunday against the Titans, and J.J. Nelson is nursing a sore knee. Chad Williams should get a little more work.

"(Patrick) used to be in the book, when we didn't have any speed," coach Bruce Arians said. "He may be back in there soon."

Editor's Note: Peterson isn't playing offense this weekend. Or this year, I'm guessing.

-- The other Peterson isn’t playing Sunday, but that isn't a surprise any longer. Adrian Peterson still hasn't practiced since suffering the neck injury and his road to return is vague, to say the least. Arians has no answers and Peterson has not yet spoken to the media since getting hurt. More chances for Kerwynn Williams.

-- On the good side, having left tackle Jared Veldheer is crucial, especially when weighed against the fact the Titans are without pass rusher Derrick Morgan.

-- Quietly, money linebacker Deone Bucannon returned to full practice this week from his ankle injury. Arians already said Josh Bynes — who is playing very well — will get snaps. It'll be interesting to see how playing time is parceled out to Bucannon, Bynes and Karlos Dansby.

-- Don't forget that the Aeneas Williams episode of "A Football Life" is tonight.

-- Also, there is a toy drive Sunday at the stadium, if you would like to contribute. Monetary donations or new, unwrapped toys will be accepted at the gates.

-- Marcus Mariota is not Russell Wilson, not even close. Maybe someday, but not today. Still, there are some similarities in terms of mobility in the pocket. The one thing Mariota has (surprisingly) not done well this season (that Wilson absolutely does) is throw on the run. The Cardinals don't want Mariota escaping for long runs, but if they can get him to move and still try to throw, maybe that is something they can exploit.

-- Former Cardinals head coach Dave McGinnis is spending this season as the color analyst for the Titans' radio network. Mac was a great personality to cover back in the day, and that final locker room speech he made after the famous McCown-to-Poole touchdown — knowing he'd be fired as coach — is as emotional as they get.

-- The Titans visit University of Phoenix Stadium Sunday and that will complete the league — Tennessee is the only team not yet to have played in the Cardinals' "new" stadium, which is in its 12th season. The Cardinals would prefer to be lousy houseguests — Arians is 6-1 against the AFC South since coming to Arizona.

-- Larry Fitzgerald needs 26 yards to pass Randy Moss. I'm gonna guess he has that in the first quarter. No, I'm not putting any money on it.

See you Sunday.

p2660813196-o580759500-3
Advertising
;