GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Two days before the Arizona Cardinals host the Oakland Raiders in their first preseason game, coach Bruce Arians ruled out nine players with another three listed as “iffy.”
Arians said cornerback Asa Jackson, cornerback Mike Jenkins, wide receiver John Brown, offensive lineman Earl Watford, offensive lineman Taylor Boggs, nose tackle Corey Peters, inside linebacker Alani Fua, defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche and wide receiver Brittan Golden won’t play Friday. Arians added that cornerback Cariel Brooks, wide receiver Jaxon Shipley and defensive tackle Olsen Pierre were all “iffy.” In addition to those 12, Arians said the players on the physically unable to perform list -- safety Tyrann Mathieu, defensive tackle Frostee Rucker, cornerback Justin Bethel and linebacker Zack Wagenmann -- won’t be active in time for the game.
Arians said Watford is on crutches and will be out about two weeks with a knee injury that he described as “some bruise, MCL, sprain, whatever. It’s a knee.” But it won’t require surgery, Arians said.
With two receivers and four cornerbacks down, Arians said Friday night is a “great opportunity” for young guys at both positions to earn necessary reps to impress either Cardinals coaches or put plays on tape to earn a job elsewhere.
Wednesday’s practice, the last this week before Friday’s game, will see young players getting more reps than normal in preparation for the Raiders.
“They’ll get most of the work today so that they can put on the best performance they can in their first big evaluation,” Arians said.
The quarterback rotation for Friday will start with Carson Palmer for a series and then Drew Stanton will get reps before Matt Barkley takes over for most of the game. Rookie Jake Coker will play in the fourth quarter.
