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Patrick Peterson More Involved Against Rams

Notes: Fitzgerald leaves game with hamstring injury; Hodges starts

CB Patrick Peterson had eight tackles and an interception against Los Angeles
CB Patrick Peterson had eight tackles and an interception against Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES – Despite talk of a more involved Patrick Peterson this season, Week 1 came and went with him mostly a spectator.

That changed in Sunday's 34-0 loss to the Rams, as the Pro Bowl cornerback was around the ball plenty. He finished tied for the team lead in tackles with eight and added an interception.

"I wish I could take that tackle I missed back (on a Todd Gurley touchdown run) but for the most part it feels good to be involved in the game and try to help my team win ballgames," Peterson said.

The interception came near the goalline when Jared Goff rolled to his right and tried to sneak a throw past Peterson.

"He came up with a big play," coach Steve Wilks said. "I thought we needed that. They were going in and had a little bit of momentum, so stopping them, that was great. We just couldn't capitalize off of it."

Peterson was a bigger part of the action because he did not track Los Angeles' No. 1 wideout, Brandin Cooks, but it was a double-edged sword.

Cooks took advantage of avoiding Peterson, catching seven passes for 159 yards. Goff finished 24-of-32 for 354 yards and a touchdown, regularly finding holes in the Cardinals' zone defense, often from a clean pocket.

"I've got to look at the tape, but when you're playing zone you have to rely on the front getting pressure there, getting hands up," Peterson said. "We weren't able to create pressure up front, and a quarterback as good as Goff, as he's shown so far, it's tough. There are going to be holes in the defense. We just have to continue fighting up front to make sure we get to him, get him off his spot."

FITZGERALD LEAVES GAME WITH HAMSTRING INJURY

Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald aggravated a hamstring injury that had been lingering the past 10 days and missed the end of the contest. Coach Steve Wilks said he didn't want to put Fitzgerald back in the game because of the lopsided score.

"I don't know how effective I would have been, but I could have managed my way through," Fitzgerald said. "I don't know if that would have done anybody any good."

Fitzgerald, who finished the game with three catches for 28 yards, said the issue came up as he dove for a pass.

"I didn't feel it pop or anything like that, but it grabbed good enough where I know that if I kept going at it, it could have gotten much worse," Fitzgerald said. "I didn't want to add insult to injury."

GERALD HODGES STARTS ON DEFENSE

Linebacker Gerald Hodges started the game in place of Deone Bucannon. The Cardinals were hoping to be better against the run, and it had the intended effect as the Rams only averaged 2.7 yards per carry after the Redskins gashed the Cardinals in the opener.

Gurley finished with 19 carries for 42 yards, although he did score three touchdowns. Hodges finished with four tackles. Bucannon played in passing situations and finished with one tackle.

Images from the Cardinals' Week 2 matchup in Los Angeles

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