The learning curve for Baron Browning, coming in at midseason, was always going to be something with which to deal, but the outside linebacker had an impactful day Sunday against the Patriots. Not only did he get his first sack since being traded to Arizona, but he also played 30 snaps out of 51 possible -- at 59 percent the highest amount of anyone at his position and the first time since Week 2 (when Dennis Gardeck did it) that the most OLB snaps were had by someone not named Zaven Collins.
Collins played 25 snaps, Julian Okwara 18, Victory Dimukeje 16 and Zavier Thomas 10 as the unit adjusted with the loss of part-time OLB Mack Wilson Sr., who was limited to four plays after getting a concussion, and with Jesse Luketa playing just three before his thigh injury.
Wilson's absence also impacted the inside linebacker room. Kyzir White played all 51 snaps, but Krys Barnes had 23 after playing few defensive snaps over the past several weeks.
Safeties Budda Baker and Jalen Thompson each played 100 percent as well, with cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting getting 47 (and an interception), Starling Thomas V at 37, Garrett Williams at 35, Max Melton at 16 (after he came out for a time with an injury) and safety Rabbit Taylor-Demerson at 12.
For a second straight game, Darius Robinson played 30 snaps and also got his first NFL sack, and his workload was tops on the defensive line. L.J. Collier (28), Roy Lopez (24), Naquan Jones (24) and Dante Stills (24) was the rest of the rotation.
Both Kelvin Beachum (10 total snaps, 6 as a tight end) and Jon Gaines (5 snaps as a fullback/tight end) got offensive work on the line among the Cardinals' 70 offensive snaps. Tight end Trey McBride had 64 snaps, as Tip Reiman had 30 and Elijah Higgins 24 as the Cardinals went jumbo often.
Marvin Harrison Jr. had 54 snaps at wide receiver, with Michael Wilson at 52, Zay Jones at 21 and Greg Dortch at an impactful 18.
At running back, the Cardinals didn't have Emari Demercado -- who went to IR -- and then Trey Benson (11 snaps) hurt his ankle late in the game. James Conner played 50 snaps, while DeeJay Dallas had 12 snaps, a season-high on offense. Dallas had played just five offensive snaps all season before Monday.
