Cardinals suffer major losses before critical Week 10 matchup against the Seahawks that they couldn’t afford

The Cardinals’ defense took a major hit after win on Monday night.

Josh Taylor — Washington Commanders News Writer
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The Arizona Cardinals finally notched an impressive win against the Dallas Cowboys, but the Monday night game came at a cost with a short week for recovery.

The defense took many hits during the game, and recent injury updates show that they will have their hands full with a tough matchup ahead. Head coach John Gannon figured out the quarterback situation after sending Kyler Murray to IR and announcing Jacoby Brissett as the starter, but now the defense needs the focus.

Gannon announced that the defense will be without three key players on Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks in a critical NFC West game.

The Cardinals will be without three key defenders

As if the matchup wasn’t tough enough, the Cardinals will have to take on a top passing offense in the league on the road without rookie cornerback Will Johnson, Max Melton, and linebacker Mack Wilson.

Losing those three isn’t ideal for this matchup, and the Cardinals need several players to step up. Rookie linebacker Cody Simon will be getting his first start with Wilson out, and he impressed against the Cowboys when he had to come in and forced a fumble against running back Javonte Williams.

In the secondary, expect huge roles for Denzel Burke and Kei’Trel Clark to step in for Melton and Johnson. Burke is another rookie who stepped up against the Cowboys and had the game-sealing interception on Dak Prescott. Clark isn’t a rookie, but he’s still a young day three pick who has impressed, especially in the first matchup against the Seahawks.

Asking for young players to step up as starters can be a tough ask, especially when you have the league’s top wide receiver lining up against the defense on Sunday.

The Seahawks’ offense is on fire right now

The Seahawks are coming off their own impressive win after blowing out the Washington Commanders on the road, and Sam Darnold put on a show. Darnold went 21 for 24 with 330 passing yards, four touchdowns, and one interception, and didn’t have a single incompletion in the first half.

The passing offense is fourth in the league with an average of 255 yards per game, and that’s mainly because Jaxon Smith-Njigba is the leading receiver in the league with 948 yards already in just eight games.

Getting Garrett Williams back was a huge boost for the Cardinals’ defense against the Cowboys as well, so they will need to lean on him again to give these young corners help in a very tough matchup against an elite route runner in Smith-Njigba. Safeties Budda Baker and Jalen Thompson can help protect the depth threats as well to make sure the Seahawks don’t create any explosive plays over the top.

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