It was, for rookie cornerback Denzel Burke, a throwback to college when his coaches used to impress upon him to seize upon an opportunity of a lifetime.
Burke didn't play any defensive snaps in Week 1, but he played 67 in Week, after the Cardinals' top three cornerbacks – Max Melton, Garrett Williams and Will Johnson – all left with injuries.
"I make sure I am ready week in and week out not knowing if I am going to play or not," said Burke, who grew up in the Valley. "I did my job, and shout out to the team, we got the job done.
"I put a lot of work in, I have enjoyed the process. Just being me."
The injuries the Cardinals suffered against the Panthers will force some shuffling at cornerback. But perhaps not as much as once feared.
Williams, who hurt his knee, is going to Injured Reserve. But coach Jonathan Gannon said Williams could return at some point this season. Melton not only practiced on Wednesday, but in the open portion didn't look like he had ever done anything to the knee that kept him out most of Sunday after crashing hard to the grass.
Johnson (groin) didn't practice, but he will be evaluated daily and he said he already felt better than he had in the game.
"Everyone is taking it day by day," Johnson said. "We know we have a lot of guys who can play in that room.
Williams wasn't the only injury blow. The Cardinals also put defensive lineman L.J. Collier on IR with a knee issue, although he too could return this season, Gannon said.
But it was the cornerback situation that raised eyebrows. The Cardinals had already lost for the season Sean Murphy-Bunting and Starling Thomas V before the preseason even started. Williams has been a player who has been an important cornerback/slot/safety hybrid for defensive coordinator Nick Rallis.
The Cardinals promoted Darren Hall from the practice squad to replace Williams, and Johnson's injury puts his short-term availability in question but to know it's not serious is a significant boost.
Burke got a chunk of snaps as the fourth cornerback on the depth chart. Kei'Trel Clark also should get playing time, and Elijah Jones – the 2024 third-round pick who has been inactive the first two games – is also available, as well as Hall.
"Being a backup is hard in the NFL because you have to get so much of your preparation through other means other than getting reps at times," defensive coordinator Nick Rallis said. "I think JG does a phenomenal job that everyone gets reps within our system but you have to do that much more in terms of in the classroom, visualization, walking though, and I thought the guys that came in did a phenomenal job."
The Cardinals will have a test of health overall, with the game Sunday in San Francisco and then a Thursday night home game against another NFC West rival, Seattle.
"All the guys JG and (GM) Monti (Ossenfort) have put together here, I honestly think they did a good job," Clark said. "Everybody here in this DB row fits into the system. We all pick up each other.
"We play a very violent game. Those things are going to happen. Next man has to be able to step up."
PRACTICE SQUAD MOVES
After promoting Hall, the Cardinals signed defensive lineman Zach Carter and cornerback Ekow Boye-Doe to the practice squad and released linebacker Elliott Brown from the practice squad. Boye-Doe was on the team in the preseason before being released.
The Cardinals lost rookie defensive lineman Elijah Simmons on Wednesday from the practice squad when he signed to the 53-man roster of the Buccaneers.
