Rookie defensive lineman Ed Stinson graded out error-free against Oakland.
Ed Stinson scanned the error sheet put out Monday by defensive line coach Brentson Buckner and saw nothing but positive marks.
The rookie defensive end knew he played well on Sunday against the Raiders, but this was zeroing in on the Holy Grail for NFL players – a perfect game-day evaluation.
"He didn't have (any mistakes marked) on the sheet," Stinson said. "He just had, 'Good, good, good.' I was looking for the bad."
Stinson then gazed down at his overall grade, and as he talked about it Wednesday, a tinge of disappointment still resonated.
"Coach Buck grades really hard," he said. "I got a 97."
Stinson may not have been perfect against Oakland, but nonetheless his play was a revelation. While his raw numbers were not
staggering – two tackles and two quarterback hurries –the fifth-round pick did such a good job that coach Bruce Arians is determined to find him consistent playing time moving forward, even when star defensive end Calais Campbell returns from a knee injury.
"He's earned the right to be on the field a bunch," Arians said.
Stinson's performance has been crucial in a year where not only Campbell has missed time but Darnell Dockett is out for the season and edge-setter Matt Shaughnessy is missing much of the year.
Arians awarded Stinson a game ball for his play against Oakland, and according to Pro Football Focus, he graded out with an impressive plus-1.6 mark, making an impact in both the run and pass game. He played in 63 percent of the defensive snaps, a season-high.
Stinson said the 97 percent rating was the best among all defensive linemen throughout the entire season, but he still isn't satisfied.
"It means that I need to get that other three percent," Stinson said.
Even though there have been little outside expectations for the soft-spoken lineman, Stinson has held himself to a high standard, and it's helped him carve out a role on an imposing defensive line.
"I always put a lot on myself to do my job well," Stinson said. "That's how I came up and how I was when I was younger. Even at Alabama I made sure I did everything right. I didn't want to be that guy on the board with mental errors. I take pride in that."
CAMPBELL SITS; PALMER GETS HEALTHIER
Campbell (knee) missed practice Wednesday and his availability for Sunday's game against the Eagles is unknown. Campbell, who has 16 tackles, a sack and an interception in four games, deems it important to practice at least once this week in order to be prepared.
"I've got to practice at least Friday," Campbell said. "Personally, I feel like I could play (without), but I won't be the best I can be
unless I have at least one day of practice."
Arians said Campbell has made progress, but it's hard to know how close he is without practicing.
"There's a big difference between jogging and running around a hoop and taking on guys 300 pounds and pushing on him," Arians said.
Palmer (shoulder) said he could be close to 100 percent by next week as he continues to get stronger.
"I'm actually able to lift in my upper body, which I wasn't able to lift for I think five weeks is what it was," Palmer said. "Definitely had a lot of atrophies to starting to get some strength back and starting to put on a little extra weight up top, which is good. You get sick of going into the weight room and not being able to do things. It was a month of that. It's good to be back doing that stuff."
Tight end Troy Niklas (ankle) didn't practice Wednesday, while wide receiver John Brown (ankle), running back Andre Ellington and safety Rashad Johnson (knee) were limited.
For the Eagles, wide receiver Brad Smith (groin) was out, while running back Darren Sproles (knee), center Jason Kelce (hernia), guard Evan Mathis (knee) and linebacker Mychal Kendricks (calf) were limited.
A RETURN VISIT TO ARIZONA
Eagles star running back LeSean McCoy has not strayed from Pennsylvania during his high school, college or professional football years, so a trip to Arizona was a bit of a shock to him back in 2005.
He came out to visit his older brother LeRon, then a rookie seventh-round pick of the Cardinals who played one year with the team. LeSean enjoyed most of the visit and meeting wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, but he never got used to the change in temperature.
"I liked Arizona," McCoy said. "It was really nice. It was so damn hot, though, we had to work out at night. When the sun went down we would work out. But I like Arizona, really, a lot. A lot of pretty girls out there."
Sunday will mark his second regular season road game against the Cardinals. He had 13 carries for 70 yards in a 27-6 loss at University of Phoenix Stadium in 2012.
TV RATINGS SOAR
The Cardinals' hot start has resulted in record television viewership of their games. The game telecasts have been watched by an average of 474,000 local households through Week 7, a 30 percent boost from the same point in 2013, which is the largest increase in the NFL. The Panthers are second at 15 percent.
The Cardinals' six broadcasts are the most-watched programs of any kind in the Phoenix market this season. Sunday's win over the Raiders garnered a rating of 26.5, the highest ever for a Week 7 matchup.
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