Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Jess Root

4 surprise benchings for the Cardinals in Week 7

The Arizona Cardinals had a few lineup changes in Week 7 against the Seattle Seahawks. They had 66 offensive snaps and 60 defensive snaps, and we went over the snap counts.

There were four notable players we expected to see in the starting lineup who did not end up playing at all. All four were healthy and active for the game.

An offer for Cardinals fans

For the best local Phoenix news, sports, entertainment and culture coverage, subscribe to azcentral.

Let’s see who they were.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

 

RB Keaontay Ingram

Alex Gallardo-USA TODAY Sports

Ingram started in Week 6 after James Conner went on injured reserve and head coach Jonathan Gannon even said he liked what they have in Ingram. However, on Sunday, he only played special teams. Rookie Emari Demercado started and had 17 touches.

OL Dennis Daley

Arizona Cardinals offensive linemen Lachavious Simmons (73), Dennis Daley (71), and Marquis Hayes (78) during minicamp at the Cardinals Dignity Health Training Center in Tempe on June 14, 2023.

Trystan Colon got the start at left guard, replacing Elijah Wilkinson, who had a neck injury. He was splitting time with Wilkinson until Daley returned from injured reserve. Daley then held the role Colon had in Week 6. With Wilkinson’s injury, it seemed logical that Daley would move into the lineup.

That was not the case and, based on Gannon’s comment on Monday, it sounds like Colon was going to replace Wilkinson even if he hadn’t gotten hurt.

CB Kei'Trel Clark

Alex Gallardo-USA TODAY Sports

Clark looked great in training camp and the preseason and earned a starting job to start the year.

However, Antonio Hamilton replaced him in Week 5. An injury to Jalen Thompson moved Hamilton to the slot and Clark played in Week 6.

Last week, he was limited all week with a hamstring injury but did not log a single snap in the game on Sunday despite dressing for the game. He did not play even on special teams. Starling Thomas played every snap and Garrett Williams played in the slot.

While Clark was limited in practice last week with a hamstring injury, when Gannon was asked about Clark, he made sure to say he was healthy, making him a healthy scratch.

It would seem Clark has found himself a little bit in Gannon’s doghouse recently.

S K'Von Wallace

Alex Gallardo-USA TODAY Sports

Wallace had played every game on defense and had been starting every since Budda Baker got hurt.

He started with Jalen Thompson. When Thompson was out last week, it was Wallace with Andre Chachere.

When Baker and Thompson were together, Wallace was the nickel safety, entering the game when Thompson moved to the slot.

However, on Sunday, only Chachere played with Baker and Wallace only played on special teams.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.