The Cardinals elevated a pair of players from the practice squad Saturday -- the first time this season they have moved up the 2020-allowed-max of two for a game -- with injuries taking a bite out of the roster.
Moved up were cornerback Jace Whittaker and running back Jonathan Ward.
The Whittaker move is notable, because cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick is dealing with a concussion suffered at practice this week. Coach Kliff Kingsbury said Kirkpatrick would be a game-day decision, but Whittaker's promotion means at best Kirkpatrick remains a question to be able to play against the Panthers.
Ward was also elevated last week after the injury to D.J. Foster, and was active Sunday. That seems likely again Sunday, which would probably mean fellow rookie Eno Benjamin will be inactive.
The fact the Cards did not promote a wide receiver would seem to be at least some good news for the status of DeAndre Hopkins (ankle) and/or Christian Kirk (groin), both of whom are also game-day decisions.
Teams are allowed to elevate up to two practice squad players the day before games this season because of rules in place for the coronavirus. A player can do that twice without having to clear waivers to revert to the practice squad, which would be the usual process. This is Ward's second such elevation.
