After a season in which Jonathan Gannon chose the captains for the Cardinals, he returned the honor to the players and let their votes determine the lineup.
The outcome wasn't different.
Quarterback Kyler Murray, running back James Conner, linebacker Kyzir White and safety Budda Baker will be the 2024 captains, as the size of the contingent shrunk. The Cards had six captains last season.
But Gannon said most weeks will also have a game-day captain chosen by players, the determination of which won't come down until the Cardinals have their game-eve meeting on Saturday night.
"A lot of good guys in that locker room, a lot of guys got votes," Gannon said. "There is a lot of positive leadership in there from a bunch of different guys. I feel really good about the health and the state of where we are as a team."
It is the fifth straight season for Murray and Baker, and the third straight for Conner. White has been named captain for both of his seasons in Arizona.
"It feels good to get the respect of your peers," White said. "I talk when I feel I need to talk. I don't really try to do too much. I lead by example."
White echoed Gannon's idea that there are more leaders than just the official captains list. He said he voted for defensive lineman Justin Jones, and both Jones and linebacker Dennis Gardeck are "a captain in my eyes."
"Just because you're a captain, that doesn't put you above nobody," White said. "We're all on the same level.
"There are more than four captains on this team, to be honest."
While there is not a permanent captain from special teams, Gannon dismissed that as an issue.
"The way it kind of kicked out, but there a bunch of leaders on special teams units," Gannon said. "These guys into game-captain roles. That doesn't have to be just special teams, but I wouldn't read too much into that. There are a lot of guys that pop off in my mind that could be captains that got votes."
The Cardinals had an extra practice Monday to work on their own. Gannon said the work for Buffalo won't begin in earnest until Wednesday. He was encouraged by the energy in the building on Labor Day, however.
"We have to focus our energy the right way, because if you don't do that, you might not maximize what you need that energy for," Gannon said.
INJURY UPDATE
Gannon said the team is dealing with some "bumps and bruises." Included in that group are rookie tight end Tip Reiman and rookie wideout Xavier Weaver, although Reiman will return to practice on Wednesday. Weaver has an oblique issue but should ramp up soon, Gannon said.
