Player Outlook
Due to five defensive touchdowns, the Cardinals actually finished last year as a top-12 defense. But they were in the bottom half of the league in terms of yards allowed, sacks, and turnovers forced. They also gave up the second-most points in the NFL. While the arrival of Jonathan Gannon could one day turn this team into a defensive juggernaut, 2023 is probably not the year, especially if Kyler Murray is out and the offense cannot stay on the field. Leave the Cardinals defense on the waiver wire, even with a great first matchup against Washington.

Fantasy News

  • Cardinals' Josh Woods: Missing another week

    Rotowire
    Woods (ankle) has been listed as out ahead of Sunday's game against San Francisco, Darren Urban of Arizona's official site reports. Woods will miss his third consecutive week as he continues to rehab from the ankle injury he suffered during the Cardinals' Week 1 loss to the Commanders. Krys Barnes (finger) is listed as questionable, and if he's able to play this coming Sunday, he'll likely be Woods' replacement at linebacker. Owen Pappoe is listed as Arizona's third-string weakside linebacker, and he'd likely fill in if Barnes is also ruled out.
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  • Cardinals' Jonathan Ledbetter: Out for Week 4

    Rotowire
    Coach Jonathan Gannon said Ledbetter (finger) will not play in Sundays Week 4 game against the 49ers, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports. Ledbetter started all three of the Cardinals' first three games, seeing action on 141 defensive snaps and 14 more on special teams. He's recorded 12 tackles and one sack. Leki Fotu and Roy Lopez figure to see increased work on the interior of Arizona's defensive line.
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  • Cardinals' Krys Barnes: Returns to practice

    Rotowire
    Barnes (finger) was a limited participant at Arizona's practice Thursday, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports. Barnes was unavailable to open the week, but he was able to return to the field Thursday. The linebacker will have one more practice session Friday to increase his workload ahead of the team's Week 4 matchup with the 49ers.
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  • Cardinals' Krys Barnes: Misses practice Wednesday

    Rotowire
    Barnes (finger) did not practice Wednesday, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports. Barnes exited the Week 3 win over the Cowboys with the injury. He's been in on 61 percent of the defensive snaps through three games, recording 16 tackles and three pass breakups.
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  • Cardinals' Zaven Collins: Practices fully Wednesday

    Rotowire
    Collins (eye) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports. Collins was poked in the eye in the Week 3 win over Dallas but is good to go for this week's game against the 49ers. The No. 16 overall pick of the 2021 Draft, Collins has recorded seven tackles, 1.5 sacks, one interception, one fumble recovery and one pass breakup through three contests.
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  • Cardinals' Zaven Collins: Should be good to go

    Rotowire
    Collins (eye) is "good to go" Sunday against the 49ers, according to head coach Jonathan Gannon, Bo Brack of GoPHNX.com reports. Collins was poked in the eye during the team's Week 3 win over the Cowboys and had to exit the game. Gannon notes that the Tulsa product will need to wear a dark visor but should be able to play moving forward.
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  • Cardinals' Krys Barnes: Exits with injury

    Rotowire
    Barnes (hand) is questionable to return after he left Sunday's contest with the Cowboys in the fourth quarter, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports. Barnes sustained a hand injury, and considering how late in the game it happened, he's unlikely to return. More information on his status will likely come following the contest.
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  • Cardinals' Zaven Collins: Exits Sunday with eye injury

    Rotowire
    Collins is questionable to return to Sunday's contest against the Cowboys after exiting with an eye injury. Collins registered two tackles -- including one sack -- before exiting in the third quarter. Cameron Thomas and BJ Ojulari would both see an uptick in their workloads should Collins be unable to return.
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  • Cardinals' Leki Fotu: Will suit up Week 3

    Rotowire
    Fotu (shoulder) has been ruled active ahead of Sunday's game versus Dallas. Fotu was considered questionable to play Sunday after he sat out the Week 2 loss to the Giants with a shoulder injury. The 25-year-old was limited during each practice this week while tending to this injury, though he'll ultimately be ready to reprise his spot as Arizona's starting defensive tackle.
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  • Roy Lopez: Joins Arizona's practice squad

    Rotowire
    The Cardinals signed Lopez to their practice squad Saturday, Darren Urban of the team's official site reports. Lopez was waived by the Texans with an injury settlement Sept. 4 after being placed on their injured reserve list with a hamstring injury. His addition to the Cardinals' practice squad indicates that he has worked past the injury and will await an opportunity to be called up to the active roster. The 2021 sixth-round pick played in all 17 games for the Texans last season and registered 36 tackles (20 solo) and one sack.
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  • Cardinals' Carlos Watkins: Headed to IR

    Rotowire
    The Cardinals placed Watkins (biceps) on injured reserve Saturday, Darren Urban of the team's official site reports. Watkins sustained the injury in Week 2 against the Giants. He signed with the Cardinals in March after spending the past two seasons with the Cowboys. Watkins will now be forced to miss the next four games and will be eligible to return in Week 7 against the Seahawks on Oct. 22, though he could miss more time while recovering from his injury.
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  • Jovante Moffatt: Reaches injury settlement

    Rotowire
    Moffatt (undisclosed) has been cut from the Cardinals' practice squad injury list with an injury settlement, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports. Moffatt has been dealing with an undisclosed injury. He will now be free to look for a new opportunity once he is back to full health. The safety last saw the field for regular-season action in 2022 with the Falcons.
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  • Cardinals' Leki Fotu: Status in question for Week 3

    Rotowire
    Fotu (shoulder) is listed as questionable for Sunday's contest versus the Cowboys, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports. Fotu was inactive Week 2 versus the Giants after being listed as a limited practice participant on all three of the Cardinals' injury reports prior to that game. He managed a similar on-field regimen this week, so it remains to be seen if he'll be able to reenter Arizona's defensive line mix Sunday.
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  • Cardinals' Josh Woods: Will miss Week 3

    Rotowire
    Coach Jonathan Gannon said Friday that Woods (ankle) will not play in Sunday's Week 3 game against the Cowboys, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports. Woods also missed last week's loss to the Giants after starting and playing 55 percent of the defensive snaps in the season opener versus Washington. Krys Barnes and Kyzir White started at linebacker for Arizona in Week 2.
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  • Cardinals' Carlos Watkins: Set for surgery

    Rotowire
    Watkins (biceps) will require surgery to address an injury sustained Week 2 and could miss significant time, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports. Watkins seems a likely candidate to land on IR, where he could be sidelined more than the requisite minimum of four games. In two appearances for the Chiefs this season, he's racked up seven total tackles, one sack and one pass defensed.
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  • Sean Chandler: Suspension lifted

    Rotowire
    Chandler has completed his two-game suspension, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. Chandler was suspended for two games by the NFL in March for violating its performance-enhancing substance policy. He subsequently spent the offseason in Arizona but failed to make it through final cuts. Now that his suspension is completed, the safety is free to look for a new opportunity.
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  • Cardinals' K'Von Wallace: Leads team in tackles Sunday

    Rotowire
    Wallace recorded eight tackles (five solo) in Sunday's 31-28 loss to the Giants. With five-time Pro Bowler Budda Baker (hamstring) out, Wallace was tasked with an increased workload, and he made the most of his opportunity. Since Baker will be on Arizona's injured reserve list until Week 7, Wallace can be expected to see more playing time in the coming weeks than he ever did in Philadelphia.
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  • Cardinals' Jalen Thompson: Grabs a pick Sunday

    Rotowire
    Thompson recorded seven tackles (five solo) and an interception in Sunday's 31-28 loss versus the Giants. Thompson found himself in the right place at the right time late in the second quarter, shuffling under a deflected Daniel Jones pass to tally the sixth interception of his NFL career. He also posted a solid tackle total for the second time in as many weeks and is on pace for his third consecutive 100-tackle season.
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  • Cardinals' Kyzir White: Gets sack in Week 2

    Rotowire
    White recorded seven tackles (five solo) and a sack in Sunday's 31-28 loss versus the Giants. After leading Arizona in tackles in Week 1, White tied for second on the team in Week 2, including a sack for just the fourth time in his career. He's easily on pace for his third consecutive 100-tackle season and remains a good IDP option headed into a Week 3 matchup versus Dallas.
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  • Cardinals' Qwuantrezz Knight: Moves to Arizona

    Rotowire
    Knight was signed off the 49ers' practice squad by the Cardinals on Monday, Jose M. Romero of The Arizona Republic reports. Knight has yet to play an NFL regular-season game since going undrafted out of UCLA in 2022. However, with Budda Baker (hamstring) going on injured reserve, the team's newest addition will likely have that opportunity now, and possibly as soon as Week 3 against the Cowboys.
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