Arizona Cardinals brace for challenging offseason amid injury struggles as Rams pursue playoff success
The Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Rams took to the practice field on Thursday, ringing in the new year while gearing up for the final week of the regular season. With the postseason on the horizon for the Rams, the Cardinals are left to reflect on a tumultuous season and prepare for what promises to be a compelling offseason.
Injury Report: Arizona Cardinals
The injury report for the Cardinals reflects the team’s ongoing challenges:
Did Not Participate:
– Evan Brown (personal)
– Kitan Crawford (ankle)
– Marvin Harrison Jr. (foot/heel)
– Josh Sweat (ankle/knee)
Limited Participation:
– Kelvin Beachum (rest)
Full Participation:
– Budda Baker (concussion/thumb)
– Hjalte Froholdt (elbow)
– Will Johnson (thumb)
– Max Melton (heel)
Budda Baker saw a positive shift in his status, moving from limited to full participation as he navigated through concussion protocol. Kelvin Beachum made his return after a scheduled rest day, while the rest of the Cardinals players maintained their previous statuses.
Jonathan Gannon, the Cardinals’ head coach, acknowledged the challenge ahead of them, stating, “We’re going to play a really good football team, a playoff football team. All three phases are playing at a high level, so we’ve got a challenge cut out for us. We’ll have a good, spirited week and go win a game here in LA.”
Injury Report: Los Angeles Rams
The Rams’ injury report presents a different picture as they aim to secure their playoff positioning:
Did Not Participate:
– Blake Corum (ankle)
– Kevin Dotson (ankle)
– Josh Wallace (ankle)
Limited Participation:
– Davante Adams (hamstring)
– Braden Fiske (ankle)
– Alaric Jackson (knee)
– Jaylen McCollough (hip)
– Omar Speights (ankle)
– Kyren Williams (ankle)
Full Participation:
– Tyler Higbee (ankle)
– Xavier Smith (chest)
– Quentin Lake (elbow)
Davante Adams made his return to practice as a limited participant, recovering from a hamstring injury that sidelined him for several weeks. The Rams also welcomed back fellow wideout Xavier Smith, while safety Quentin Lake was newly added to the injury report due to an elbow issue.
As the Rams aim for a playoff berth, they are vying for either the fifth or sixth seed in the NFC. However, their fate could be sealed depending on the outcome of the San Francisco-Seattle matchup on Saturday. If the 49ers secure a win over the Seahawks, the Rams will find themselves locked into the sixth seed, with no further stakes in their game. Conversely, a win for both Seattle and Los Angeles could propel the Rams into the fifth seed, setting them up to face the NFC South division winner.
Both teams will engage in one final practice on Friday, after which they will update player statuses as out, questionable, or doubtful moving into the weekend. On Saturday, Los Angeles and Arizona will have the opportunity to elevate up to two practice squad players to their active rosters. Official inactives will be announced 90 minutes prior to Sunday’s kickoff at SoFi Stadium, as both teams look to finalize their rosters for this pivotal matchup.
