We have thankfully reach the bye week. Better yet, we have reached the bye with the Cardinals in first place. Questions have been edited for length and clarity. Don't forget to send a question for a future mailbag with at least a first name and last initial.
From Elliot Hyde:
"Hi Darren. Are there any league requirements or constraints for a bye week? Are players forced to take a break from the facility/practice? Based on your experience does a JG bye week differ much from previous coaches?"
The collective bargaining agreement dictates players must be off from Thursday through Sunday on their bye week. Many coaches, including the ones with the Cardinals over the years, have morphed into keeping the week pretty off beyond that -- for example, the players were officially off after Monday's work this week. There will be guys around some of the week working out or getting treatment. It also usually means a "bonus" on-field practice on the following Monday, before resuming a "regular" week as they prepare for their next game after the bye, in this case the road trip to Seattle.
From Karla Kaehlo:
"I've been saying it, man, and we saw it on Sunday: Rabbit Taylor-Demerson is a star. That guy looks like a blend of Jalen and Budda. He's great in coverage and hits like a truck. Between Rabbit and Garrett Williams, we have two bonafide shutdown cornerbacks in the secondary for the first time since P2 and Tyrann. My question is about the rest of the secondary. Sean Murphy-Bunting started the game, promptly got a pass interference, and then was on the sideline the rest of the game. Was he benched or injured? And what injury does Elijah Jones have? Will we see him again this season?"
Some things to clarify: Rabbit is a safety, not a cornerback. Also, SMB played plenty after the pass interference. He didn't sit for good until after Budda Baker's sack at the end of the third quarter, so basically he came out in the fourth quarter of a game long decided. (The PI was called at 10:25 of the first quarter, his fifth play. He was in for 39). He wasn't hurt, and I wouldn't say benched. They gave the remainder of the snaps to the youngsters. As far as Elijah Jones, he has a heel injury that he is still rehabbing. He is eligible to return. Jonathan Gannon did say he expected Jones to be back at some point.
From JP Medellion:
"Hi Darren. This is a very podcasty-type of question, but could you ask Kyler if that Quincy Williams hit was the hardest he's ever been hit in his football career? I can't speak for his time at Oklahoma, but that was almost certainly the hardest hit I've ever seen him take in the NFL. If he says no, I'm curious what was the hardest hit of his career?"
Kyler was actually asked that question postgame. His answer: "If I'm not looking. Yeah, a couple of times maybe. I'm kind of glad it happened. It felt good."
From Cindy Dobbins:
"Darren, in the last mailbag, several people mentioned that the tough part of the schedule was over. I'm not buying that. After the bye, we have Seattle-Minnesota-Seattle. We also get the Rams who are hot right now and the 49ers with Christian McCaffrey back. My count is three, maybe four wins to count on. This looks like a challenging finish to me. What say you? Thanks for considering my question."
Clearly you don't overlook any opponent. JG would be mortified if anyone suggested such a thing. However, in the interest of discussion ... it does feel like the back half of the schedule isn't as hard. You are not wrong in your assessments, although the Seahawks have cooled considerably. The Vikings are winning but it's been rough at times. The division is a pain in the rear, but when isn't that the case? I'll say this, if the Cardinals keep playing like they have the last two games, those upcoming opponents aren't going to want to deal with the Cardinals, either.
From Don P:
"As usual, really appreciate what you do. We have pulled Kyler in the last four or five minutes of games and played Clayton Tune. I get that we are doing it primarily to protect Kyler but why are we not letting Tune get some serious real-game reps? He is our backup QB, if Kyler goes down he is it yet they never let him pass the ball. When it's 31-6 does it really matter if he throws an interception? Isn't it better he learn from mistakes in garbage time?"
The Cardinals aren't running the ball because they are afraid Tune would make a mistake. They are running the ball -- and not passing -- to run out the clock in a blowout and also to not run up the score. Gannon is old school like that. I understand your point, but Tune playing is, as you noted, all about getting Kyler out. Not to get Tune in.
From Joe Cardea:
"I must say I'm a little surprised! Excellent play by Cardinals. What do you think is their greatest need? I'd say defense line or maybe O-line. I must say this pro-style offense and Kyler's transition really validate moving on from previous regime."
Greatest need? I mean, if you are cultivating a wish list, I'm going to stick with a high-level pass rusher. But a) those are questions now for the offseason and b) the defense has gotten to a nice level of working as a group.
From Sebas Quiros:
"Hey Darren, couple of questions. Do you see Darius playing this year or no? I hope he does, we certainly need him and I truly believe he will be an excellent player for us. Second question, does Kyler have the freedom to call for timeouts? I assume yes, but I have rarely seen it, to not say ever so the doubt surged in my mind. Thanks for the mailbag, truly love this feature!"
Second question first, of course Kyler can call timeout. He did so as the playclock was winding down once on Sunday. As for Darius Robinson, I would be stunned if he did not play this season. When is a different story. There won't be practice this week, so the soonest he can get back on the field in a team setting is next week (and, to clarify, I am not saying he will. I'm saying that's the soonest time.) Robinson hasn't gone through a full practice since before the season started. He's going to need some time with real practice before he is going to be able to play.
From John Turilli:
"I'm not sure about you Darren but I lost my mother in 2010 at the age of 83. I still miss her and after her death I was heartbroken and felt lost a bit. It took me about a year to convince myself to move on and take care of my family. Darius Robinson lost his mother and I can as many should, understand the emotional time he is experiencing. In no way should he be on the field if he is not 100 percent emotionally ready for the NFL."
That's a fair interpretation. We do not know exactly what Robinson is thinking; he has yet to speak to the media. I agree if he is hurting that needs to be taken into account with this whole situation, but at the same time, he was clearly not healthy before his mother passed and he has been out here slowly ramping up and not ready to take part in regular practice. This feels more about calf health than mental health.
From Matthew Stroh:
"Hey Darren. I know you've covered the Cardinals for a long time but have you ever seen a Cardinals team with the kind of locker room and the kind of commitment to the head coach? Also, do you think that there is a chance to keep two kickers on the roster?"
When the team is going well, I find players have buy-in. Ken Whisenhunt had that in 2008, Bruce Arians definitely had it in 2013-2015, and even Kliff Kingsbury the first half of 2021. You are right, Gannon has gotten that early on, even when the team wasn't winning. He's seeing the results now. They definitely are connected. As far as two kickers, I think that is indeed possible if Prater were to return. Chad Ryland has been fantastic.
From Justin S:
"Darren, thanks for the mailbag. I've been transplanted in Washington since the Cards went to the Super Bowl. This year however, my wife and I are finally able to make it to out first Cardinals game here in enemy territory at Lumen Field on the 24th. Is the stadium really as loud as they say? Let the players know they have fans in the stands so the can wave on their way in before the game and out after the victory! Thanks!"
Yes, Lumen is loud. The players over the years will all tell you this. (Although I have been down there when it is loud and I will not lie, I still think the noise being made when the Cardinals were at home trying to hold the Eagles one more time in the 2008 NFC Championship was the loudest I've heard). Of course, the noise was harder with which to deal when the Seahawks were a powerful team. The Seahawks aren't quite as good these days and that can take a little bit out of the crowd.
From Jayson Wing:
"Hi Darren, Thanks again for the mailbag as it's sometimes the only way to get a lingering question answered. Back on Aug. 27 the Cardinals traded Cameron Thomas to Kansas City for a seventh-round pick in 2025. After the trade for linebacker Baron Browning, I saw a list of Cardinals draft picks for next year and it said they only had picks in rounds 1-5, nothing in 6-7. What happened?"
Nothing happened. Whatever list you were looking at is wrong. The Cardinals have their own picks in rounds 1-5, and then one in the seventh from the Thomas trade -- which, although it came from the Chiefs, is actually the Jets' seventh-round choice, so it should be near the front of the round.
