Jackson Barton was looking forward to his first NFL start Sunday, although he knew he was going to face stud Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson much of the game.
"Oh no, I lost sleep," Barton admitted. "Let's not get it twisted."
Barton held up just fine, although he ended up injuring his toe in the last quarter, the latest blow to the Cardinals' revolving door at right tackle. Barton played 48 of the 59 Cardinals' offensive snaps in Sunday's 20-13 loss to the Lions before Charlie Heck came in for the final 11 plays.
"I thought he played extremely well," coach Jonathan Gannon said. "When he got the nod that his role changed late in the week there he was ready to go and stepped up and played."
That Barton or Heck, both practice squad elevations, are playing at all is an issue. Jonah Williams, the starting right tackle, hurt his knee in the season opener. Kelvin Beachum, the backup, hurt his hamstring in practice last week and couldn't play against the Lions. Then came the Barton-Heck combo. And that doesn't even include rookie right tackle Christian Jones, who went on IR-to-return in the preseason with a lower leg injury.
A potential injury also took snaps from TE1 Trey McBride, who left the game late while getting checked for a concussion. McBride was in 50 snaps, with tight ends Tip Reiman (20) and ELijah Higgins (19) next in line. At running back, James Conner was in for 75 percent of the snaps (44), followed by Emari Demercado (12). Trey Benson had his lowest usage of the young season with only two snaps -- both which were carries for the rookie.
At wide receiver, Michael Wilson topped the position for the first time this season with 53 snaps, followed by Marvin Harrison Jr. (52), Greg Dortch (48), Chris Moore (3) and Zach Pascal (1).
On defense, there were three members of this week's 100 percent club (which was 68 snaps): cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting, linebacker Kyzir White, and safety Jalen Thompson. Safety Budda Baker missed two plays after hurting his lower leg, otherwise he would've been in the mix. (Rookie Rabbit Taylor-Demerson filled in for those two plays.)
Inside linebacker Mack WIlson Sr., who has played well this season, was in for his highest percentage of snaps (87 percent, or 59 plays.) Fellow inside 'backers Krys Barnes and Owen Pappoe had eight snaps each.
At outside linebacker, the list started with Zaven Collins (37), then Dennis Gardeck (32), Julian Okwara (26) and Xavier Thomas (13).
On the defensive line, the rotation was impacted by the triceps injury to Justin Jones, who had been playing the most snaps. Jones ended up playing 22 before his injury. Bilal Nichols (42), Roy Lopez (41), L.J. Collier (33), Dante Stills (30), and Kyhiris Tonga (14, after he hurt his knee in the second half) were the rest of the list.
In the secondary, cornerback Starling Thomas V played 55 snaps against his old team, with Garrett Williams (42), and Max Melton (13) also getting time.
