As the Cardinals head into their first preseason game Friday – and held their penultimate open practice of camp Wednesday – there will be a lot of players unable to go. One, it seems, is wide receiver Andy Isabella, who coach Kliff Kingsbury said is back in the Covid protocol. That would eliminate him, no matter what the level, from playing against the Cowboys. Isabella also spent a few days on the sideline earlier in camp also in the protocols, apparently as a close contact.
It's rough for Isabella, who would benefit from the snaps he'd get in a preseason game and knowing that A.J. Green isn't going to play and perhaps not DeAndre Hopkins (who missed Wednesday with a "minor issue.")
The Cardinals already have so many defensive linemen out that they signed three Tuesday afternoon just to get them through the game. "We needed it, no doubt," Kingsbury admitted. The hope is that Isabella doesn't impact the rest of the receiver room, but we will see.
-- The injury list remained about the same. Cornerback Malcolm Butler was back and Green was out on the field watching. Guard Justin Pugh, who left practice early Tuesday, wasn't out there either. Also not practicing were CB Darqueze Dennard, OL Brian Winters and Justin Murray, and the top four defensive linemen again.
-- It was a low-key practice – again, the game is Friday, and the final open practice of camp is Sunday – as it was clear the reps went mostly to the players expected to play more against the Cowboys. QB Kyler Murray did little Wednesday, with the reps divvied up by backups Colt McCoy and Chris Streveler. (It occurred to me that Streveler is another guy who didn't get preseason games and who needed them. He's someone to watch Friday night.)
-- JoJo Ward, who has been up and down in camp, had a great sideline snare Wednesday. Fellow wide receiver Greg Dortch also made another nice play. These are all smaller guys, but maybe they catch someone's eye in a game.
-- New tight end Demetrius Harris also made a nice catch down the seam. Darrell Daniels has had a couple of drops but remains pretty solidly No. 2 at tight end. Can Harris make a move despite coming in later?
Finally some football in a game setting.
