Surprise late update to Cardinals injury report could have huge impact on their fading playoff hopes
The Arizona Cardinals simply must win in Week 16 to have a realistic chance of making the playoffs. Per The New York Times, a win for the Cardinals would raise their playoff chances to 10 percent before taking other results into account, but a defeat would drop them to two percent. But they could be […]
The Arizona Cardinals simply must win in Week 16 to have a realistic chance of making the playoffs.
Per The New York Times, a win for the Cardinals would raise their playoff chances to 10 percent before taking other results into account, but a defeat would drop them to two percent.
But they could be without a key player for their game with the Carolina Panthers.
Arizona added center Hjalte Froholdt to its injury report on Sunday, revealing he is dealing with an illness. Froholdt is listed as questionable.
Froholdt has been an ever present for the Cardinals since joining the team in 2023. He started all 17 games last season and has started all 14 this year.
And he has enjoyed an impressive season for the Cardinals. He is tied eighth in overall grade among centers with at least 100 blocking snaps in overall grade from Pro Football Focus.
Per Sports Info Solutions, Froholdt's blown block rate of 1.2 percent is tied fifth among centers with at least 100 snaps.
Center is obviously critical to the success of an offense, but the numbers suggest Froholdt is especially key to the Arizona attack and quarterback Kyler Murray.
Should they be deprived of his services against the Panthers, the Cardinals will likely turn to Jon Gaines, a fourth-round pick last year who has yet to start a game in his career.
Favored by as much as five points on the road, Froholdt's potential absence won't be expected to derail the Cardinals in Carolina.
But it is the type of setback that could possibly serve as an equalizer in a do-or-die game for the Cardinals if Gaines isn't up to the task of filling the void. Should Froholdt indeed miss out, the onus will be on Murray and Co. to find a way to overcome the adversity.
7 round 2025 NFL mock draft nets Arizona Cardinals class that could win NFC West next year
The Arizona Cardinals are still in the thick of the 2025 NFC West race, but they'll need some luck and more wins to get to the postseason. We've put together a full seven-round 2025 NFL mock draft to help alleviate the biggest concerns across the Cardinals roster. With these five rookies, I think Arizona could […]
