The Cardinals have invested a lot of draft capital on their secondary, and will need to sort that out further as they head into 2025. But Sunday against the Rams, there was playing time doled out with an eye to the future.
Second-round pick cornerback Max Melton got his second start of the season, earning his most snaps and highest snap percentage since Week 9 when he played 55 of 57 total defensive snaps. Safety Rabbit Taylor-Demerson, a fourth-round pick, played 20 snaps -- the most he's played since he started back-to-back games in the games sandwiched around the bye.
With Melton starting, Starling Thomas V didn't start for the first time this season, although Thomas still played 31 snaps. Cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting only played 28 snaps (49 percent) but coach Jonathan Gannon said he was troubled with a foot injury late in the game.
Safety Jalen Thompson missed only one snap, because he had to come out with an injury, and Budda Baker played all 57. Cornerback Garrett Williams was in for 44, with Kei'Trel Clark with 6.
On the defensive line, L.J. Collier was in for 35, followed by Darius Robinson (29), Dante Stills (27), Roy Lopez (24), Khyiris Tonga (13) and Naquan Jones (12). At outside linebacker, Zaven Collins had 36, Baron Browning had 30, with Julian Okwara and Xavier Thomas with 12 each.
At inside linebacker, Mack Wilson Sr. left briefly with an injury, but returned from his concussion with 41 snaps. Kyzir White was in for all 57, with Krys Barnes only getting 1.
On offense, rookie Marvin Harrison Jr. had a good game (six catches, 98 yards) but did not start for the first time this season. Greg Dortch got the official start at wide receiver as the Cardinals' first play featured all three tight ends on the field. Harrison still had a 66 of 79 snaps, three fewer than position leader Michael Wilson. Zay Jones had 31 snaps (and one excellent sideline catch), the most snaps for Jones in the last four games. Dortch played 25.
Trey McBride of course had the most tight end snaps with 73, but with 24 snaps, rookie Tip Reiman reached 30 percent of the offensive snaps for his 10th straight game and in 15 of 16 games this season. Elijah Higgins played 22.
James Conner only played 12 snaps before being shut down, leading to Michael Carter playing the second-most snaps (57) of his career. He played 59 in Week 8 for the Jets in 2021. DeeJay Dallas played 11.
To round out the rookie work, tackle Christian Jones made his NFL debut, playing nine snaps, including six in place of Jackson Barton at right tackle and another three as a extra blocker.
