For as long as the initial injury report was this week, the Cardinals at least are getting healthier when it comes to Covid.
Wide receiver A.J. Green was activated from the Covid list prior to Thursday's practice. Tight end Demetrius Harris had been lifted from the list Wednesday.
To make room for both on the roster, the Cardinals put long snapper Aaron Brewer (broken arm) and tight end David Wells (hand) on injured reserve.
Green's return gives the Cardinals another wideout in the lineup. With DeAndre Hopkins' availability still in question because of a bad hamstring, Green remains an even more important cog. Thursday, he was limited in his return but the plan is for him to be able to play Sunday.
For the season, Green has made 29 catches for 456 yards and three touchdowns, missing last game against the 49ers because of Covid.
Of the three coaches that missed the 49ers game because of Covid, running backs coach James Saxon and assistant offensive line coach Brian Natkin were back on the practice field Thursday. Assistant head coach/ special teams coordinator Jeff Rodgers was not present.
KYLER MURRAY MISSES PRACTICE
Despite some optimism about playing on Wednesday, quarterback Kyler Murray (ankle) still wasn't practicing Thursday.
Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (hamstring), safety Budda Baker (concussion/knee), running back Chase Edmonds (ankle), offensive lineman Max Garcia (Achilles), wide receiver Rondale Moore (neck/concussion), defensive lineman Jordan Phillips (groin), guard Justin Pugh (calf), safety James Wiggins (knee) and running back Jonathan Ward (concussion) also were DNP.
Limited were linebacker Jordan Hicks (toe), tight end Darrell Daniels (shoulder) and Green.
For the Panthers, quarterback Sam Darnold (shoulder) and cornerback Stanley Thomas-Oliver (toe) sat out, and limited were defensive end Brian Burns (foot), cornerback Stephon Gilmore (quadiceps), linebacker Frankie Luvu (knee) and cornerback Rashaan Melvin (hand).
CAM NEWTON SIGNING LIKELY DOESN'T IMPACT CARDINALS
The Panthers signed quarterback Cam Newton Thursday morning with Sam Darnold out for a number of weeks, but P.J. Walker will still get the start Sunday at State Farm Stadium given that Newton wouldn't have time to prepare.
"He's played a lot of football, he's been in a lot of systems, and most NFL systems are simply (different) language, so I wouldn't say he can't play, but it would be tough," Cardinals defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said before Matt Rhule announced Walker as starter. "With P.J. Walker playing, you have to prepare for a lot of things ... Whoever is playing quarterback, everything is being covered."
