The hits have been consistent for the Cardinals on the injury front in 2022 and this week it struck the running backs.
There were raised eyebrows when rookie Keaontay Ingram made the roster as the fifth running back, but it’s a good thing it happened. We’ll never know if another team would have claimed Ingram had the Cardinals tried to slip him through waivers to get him on the practice squad, but they decided not to take the chance.
After three running backs went down against the Eagles – James Conner, Darrel Williams and Jonathan Ward – Ingram is now the next man up behind Eno Benjamin. Ward is on reserve/injured while Conner and Williams have been declared out for Sunday’s game against Seattle.
Behind Ingram is Corey Clement, who was signed to the practice squad earlier this week and will be active after being elevated to the game-day roster.
Earlier in the week, coach Kliff Kingsbury was asked about Benjamin handling a full workload.
“Yeah, he can,” Kingsbury said. “He did it in college. Obviously, he’s at a different level, but he’s worked really hard. If this is his opportunity, we have all the faith in the world that he’ll go out and give us everything he’s got, and I’ve been impressed with what he’s done. Like I’ve said over the last couple years, the improvement and the maturity he’s shown has really been impressive.”
While at Arizona State, Benjamin had 34 rushing attempts against Arizona in 2019. Coincidentally, after being inactive for all 16 games with the Cardinals in 2020, he had 34 carries last season and so far this season, he has 30.
He said he’s ready to carry the load Sunday. “I feel like as a runner, I don’t take a lot of big hits,” Benjamin said. “I get tackled, but I don’t take a lot of big hits. I’ll be ready for whatever.”
Kingsbury has been asked frequently about Ingram this week and repeated a consistent message.
He said, “We kept five for a reason. He was very impressive in camp and preseason and has continued to impress us with his preparation and how he’s treated each day; even on scout team. He does a great job, so if he’s got to go, we expect him to play at a high level.”
Is he ready? Kingsbury said, “I believe so. He played big-time college football (at Texas and USC). Guys are confident in him. He’s just got to trust, understand what we’re trying to do this week, and can go out there and play his game.”
Most important, the coach said, “Moment doesn’t seem too big for him. Since Day 1, just when he touches the ball, has good vision, plays downhill, plays like he belongs. Carries himself like he belongs. That’s why we ended up keeping him. It’ll be moving fast, I’m sure, first NFL game experience, but he’ll step up.
“His ball skills are probably better than I anticipated. Physicality is there. He’s never backed down from anything since he’s been here, so we’re all excited to see what he does.”
Said Ingram, “I feel like the game is still the game I’ve been playing since I was 3 years old. I got a fist bump the first day of practice (this week) and guys told me to just go out there and have fun.”
He said advice came from numerous teammates even when he was inactive for the first five games of the season.
“Everyone was telling me to make sure you stay ready, make sure you stay in your playbook,” he said. “Make sure I stay on top of my routine. Make sure I’m asking guys questions. I feel like the NFL is more mental and that’s been my approach to stay on top of that.
“Just dive into the details. The game is still a game. But there’s more detail, guys know where you’re going, so it’s all about matchups and when you have the opportunities, just make sure you dive into your preparation. Know the details so when the opportunity comes, you’re ready.”
Ingram acknowledged realizing the competition for jobs that existed in camp. “I was hoping for the best,” he said. “I see the room, obviously. My job was to be ready, regardless, if it’s here or somewhere else. I still love the game. I still treat it the same regardless of my situation.”
As for being a darkhorse as a sixth-round pick and somewhat unknown, he said, “I love it. I feel like my whole career has been like that. This is nothing new to me so I’m just ready to compete. It’s been a humbling experience. Any guy that’s part of a team wants to play. I want to be a guy that contributes, want to be a guy that teammates can lean on and win games. Finally, I get the opportunity.
“I’m excited. I’m ready to go.”
Meanwhile, Clement brings five seasons of experience, but hasn’t had much football this year after becoming a free agent in March, signing with Baltimore July 26 and being released Aug. 15.
“Lot of down time has been spent, just working out really,” he said. “Just wondering when I’m going to get the next call and make sure I stay ready for whatever workout comes to me. Luckily, they called and I was ready.”
Clement was a teammate of tight end Zach Ertz for four seasons with the Eagles. At the end of his rookie season in 2017, he contributed mightily to Philadelphia’s 41-33 Super Bowl win over New England. He had a 55-yard pass play and then two runs that totaled seven yards preceding the Philly Special from the 1-yard line that gave the Eagles a 22-12 lead at halftime. In the third quarter, he scored on a 22-yard pass play that led to a 29-19 lead. In the game, he had four catches for 100 yards.
After he was signed to the practice squad this week, Ertz said, “Corey is an awesome, awesome teammate. I loved playing with him. He was a guy that, as a rookie, he really stood out. Opening kickoff of the season in 2017, he was an undrafted free agent and comes down and smacks the returner on the opening kickoff and that set the tone for that whole season.
“From there, fast forward to the Super Bowl. He was our leading receiver so he’s a guy that’s all about the team. I’ve loved playing with him over the years. He can do whatever the team asks him to do. I know he’s been a kickoff returner in the league before. He plays on all four special teams. And he can make plays in the passing game or in the running game. He’s a really good player. It was really good to see him in the building.”
The kickoff return tackle was on Washington’s Bashaud Breeland, who was stopped at the 16-yard line. The Eagles won that day, 30-17.
When told that Ertz mentioned that play, Clement said, “Wow, that was (five) years ago already. That’s what I’m looking forward to doing when I get back out there on Sunday. Try to make a statement; that’s what every coach looks for. That’s what your teammates look for. They want to see you make a play. Make a statement. That’s what you want for yourself, too, so got a lot of respect for this organization, how they play and I’m ready to step up.”
When asked if it’s hard to be leaned on so quickly, Clement said, “Not at all. That’s what we’re built for. Sixth year in the league and I kinda get the swing of how other organizations work. Just gotta conceptualize everything. Dumb down the playbook if you can in the first week and get the ball rolling.”
He experienced that somewhat last season. Cut by the Giants on Aug. 31, he signed with Dallas two days later and played all 17 games.
Has there been a bit of cramming? Clement smiled and said, “A lot. I’m a bit overwhelmed, but it’s nothing I can’t handle so very excited. It’s very exotic offense, and getting a chance to see it firsthand is special. Gotta lot of energy, so you’ll see on Sunday.”
Will that likely be mostly on special teams? “Right. But I’m getting the playbook down on offense too, so don’t count me out there either,” he said.
In addition to Ertz, Clement said there are lots of familiar faces, while noting that his roommate in college was J.J. Watt’s brother T.J.
“It feels like home here,” he said. “Getting a chance to talk with the coaches and all the guys here and seeing how they work, it’s pretty special here. I like it.”
Offensive breakout?
Despite the Seahawks’ poor defensive numbers, the Cardinals don’t expect an easy path Sunday. They also know it’s time for a good start to the game.
Ertz said, “I don’t think the stats necessarily reflect the type of defense they are. They’ve had a couple plays where there have been breakdowns. It seems like where they’ve given up huge chunk plays, the stats are kinda skewed in that regard. But they have a really stout front. Al Woods (who is doubtful), is a guy that’s very disruptive in the run game. They’re athletic on the outside with some of their guys. They move a lot, twist a lot, so we have to be able to handle their movement.”
“I think it’s an ascending defense,” Kingsbury said. “They’re playing a bunch of young players. They decided to put young guys out there and let them grow on task, so they’ve gotten better each week. They’ve played some really good offenses and given up some big plays here or there, but it’s a group that you can tell it’s gotten better each week and they play with a lot of effort; really attack the football.
One of those young players to keep an eye on is rookie cornerback Tariq Woolen, a fifth-round pick from Texas-San Antonio. He has three interceptions in the last three games, one of which he returned 40 yards for a touchdown against the Lions.
He also blocked a 20-yard field-goal attempt in Week 2 against the 49ers that was returned 86 yards for a touchdown by Michael Jackson.
Plays the 6-foot-4 Woolen has made led teammates to nickname him Avatar and there have been comparisons to former Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman because of similarities in size and that both began their college careers as wide receivers before being switched to cornerback.
Defensive coordinator Clint Hurtt said, “There’s a lot of young guys, rookies in this league, they’re playing off and soft because they’re worried about getting run by. Not that kid — he’s ready to challenge routes.”
The hostile environment
Seattle is always a difficult place to play for visiting teams, but the Cardinals have had success there. They are 2-1 with Kingsbury, defeating the Seahawks by 17 in 2019 and 10 last season. They lost by seven points in 2020.
Since 2013, the Cardinals have won six of nine games. Of the nine games, six were decided by seven points or less and three by three points or fewer.
Asked about playing in a hostile environment, Ertz said, “I love it. It feels like it’s 53 guys or 46 guys on game day versus 70,000. So we kinda band together as a team. Obviously, we’ve been historically pretty good on the road, so we’ve found that chemistry on the road. We need to continue that this week because this is a huge game for us and we gotta find a way to be 3-3.”
Don’t hesitate to comment or ask questions on Twitter @hbalzer721 or email me: howard@gophnx.com
