There are parallel tracks a team runs along in an NFL season, and the Cardinals are no different. They are trying to right their wrongs and climb back into playoff contention, as difficult as that might be. They are also trying to formulate their plan for the future and lay that groundwork.
So to see third-round rookie Isaiah Adams get his first NFL start at right guard on Sunday against the Seahawks made sense. Adams had gotten some snaps here and there behind veteran Trystan Colon, but this time Adams not only started but played every one of the 71 offensive plays, giving the Cardinals 100 percent across the O-line for the day. (Kelvin Beachum and Jon Gaines each got 2 when the Cardinals went to jumbo packages.)
Tight end Trey McBride played the most snaps other than the line and QB Kyler Murray, getting in for 67, with Tip Reiman playing 23 and Elijah Higgins 16. At wide receiver, Marvin Harrison Jr. led the way with 60, and Michael Wilson in for 59, Greg Dortch 27, Zay Jones 24, and Zach Pascal 2.
At running back, James Conner was in for 55 plays, followed by Trey Benson's 10 and Emari Demercado's 8.
On defense, Jalen Thompson's illness didn't slow him at all; he played all 64 snaps, as did fellow safety Budda Baker and inside linebacker Kyzir White. Cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting led his position group with 59, with Garrett Williams playing 52 and Starling Thomas V (36) having nearly the same count as Max Melton (31). Safety Rabbit Taylor-Demerson also got some work with 12 snaps.
Mack Wilson Sr. had 54 as the other inside linebacker, with the outside linebacker count starting with Zaven Collins (32), Baron Browning (31), Julian Okwara (18 after being a healthy scratch since the bye), Jesse Luketa (16) and Xavier Thomas (16).
On the defensive line, L.J. Collier (36) and Dante Stills (35) played the most, but Darius Robinson (30) had his snaps go up. Roy Lopez had 29 before leaving with an ankle injury and Naquan Jones had 24.
