Patrick Peterson (21) and Calais Campbell (93) react on the sideline as a late pass glances off the hands of wide receiver Jaron Brown (13) during the Cardinals' loss to the Rams.
The Cardinals lost a painful game Sunday, one they felt they should have won against the Rams.
The team they visit this weekend in Detroit not only suffered a painful loss but will be haunted by the fact the officials missed a Seattle penalty that likely would have helped the Lions win. And also wipe away the ill-timed Calvin Johnson fumble that stole the initial chance for victory.
It's why Wednesday is moving day in the NFL. All both sides wanted to do was move on from the loss and talk about what comes next – in this case, the Cardinals visiting the Lions.
"We've got to go to work," Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said. "We can't dwell. (Fans) have to go work and cry, and
rightfully so until they get another win. Drink a lot of beer. We don't have time to worry about that last game. It's over, or it'll linger into the next one."
Lions coach Jim Caldwell felt it was so important his team move on from their crushing ending against the Seahawks that he told them not to talk about it. Quarterback Matthew Stafford did his part, answering a question about Monday by saying the Lions had already turned their focus on the Cardinals.
Caldwell admitted such a loss has an effect on everyone. But he added it was "very easy" to block out Monday's ending.
"After a certain point, you've just got to stop talking about it," Caldwell said. "After the game was over with, it was done, and we moved on. Nothing you can do about it. It doesn't help you to lament or anything of that nature. It may make you feel good for a moment, but it doesn't make any difference in the grand scheme of things. So it makes sense to move on quickly."
The Lions are 0-4. Quarterback Carson Palmer insisted the Cards won't take the game for granted – and in this case, losing against the Rams likely helps in that regard.
"You never want to lose, but it's a challenge coming back," Palmer said. "It's a tough environment and we're going to see what we're made of."
Since Arians arrived, the Cardinals have lost two straight only once with Palmer at quarterback – at San Francisco and a Thursday home game against Seattle in October of 2013.
"This is a time for your leadership to stand up," Arians said. "If you have really good leadership, you won't lose two in a row."
WEATHERSPOON WAITS AFTER A DNP
Inside linebacker Sean Weatherspoon was one of the highest-profile free agents the Cardinals signed when he inked a one-year deal in March. But after missing most of training camp with a hamstring and the emergence of fellow
linebacker Kevin Minter and safety Deone Bucannon – who has become virtually a linebacker playing the team's dollar linebacker position – Weatherspoon hasn't gotten a lot of playing time.
Weatherspoon, who doesn't play special teams, was the lone active Cardinal beside backup quarterback Drew Stanton to not play a snap against the Rams.
"It's going to be hard right now without an injury," Arians said. "Kevin is playing pretty solid and that's the same spot. Buc is playing pretty solid and he's not coming out in nickel. It's a situation where (Weatherspoon) missed too much time and those other guys have improved, so we have really nice depth."
Weatherspoon is refusing to sulk. He wore his usual smile Wednesday when talking about the situation.
"That's all I can do is be patient and work," Weatherspoon said. "My legs are feeling great. I'll be ready when they call me. I'm the next man up, so that's my role.
"I look at it as a positive that we have a lot of guys (that can play). I stay optimistic."
ELLINGTON TO RETURN; FELLS SITS
Arians said running back Andre Ellington (knee) should be ready to play finally Sunday against the Lions. Tight end Darren Fells (hip) and wide receiver J.J. Nelson (shoulder) both sat out practice Wednesday but Arians said both should be able to practice on a limited basis Thursday.
There were a host of other Cardinals limited Wednesday besides Ellington: CB Justin Bethel (foot), S Chris Clemons (hamstring), LB Alani Fua (hamstring), DE Frostee Rucker (thigh) S Rashad Johnson (hip) and LB LaMarr Woodley (thigh).
For the Lions, four did not practice: RB Joique Bell (ankle), TE Eric Ebron (knee), LB Travis Lewis (ankle) and DT Haloti Ngata (calf). DE Ziggy Ansah (shoulder), S James Ihedigbo (quadriceps), P Sam Martin (knee), CB Rashean Mathis (calf), TE Brandon Pettigrew (hamstring) and G Larry Warford (ankle) were all limited.
