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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Jess Root

Players to watch for the Cardinals in Week 9 vs. the Browns

The Arizona Cardinals face the Cleveland Browns Sunday on the road and are big underdogs. Deshaun Watson returns to the lineup for Cleveland at quarterback, while the Cardinals sent rookie Clayton Tune out for his first NFL start, facing the league’s No. 1 defense.

In the game, which Cardinals players should watch in particular?

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QB Clayton Tune

Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Tune makes his first NFL start after playing one special teams snap on a fake punt. All eyes will be on him as he will face a Browns defense ranked No. 1 in yards allowed.

Expectations aren’t high but he can’t be much worse than what the Cardinals got from Josh Dobbs over the last three weeks.

RB Keaontay Ingram

Alex Gallardo-USA TODAY Sports

James Conner, Damien Williams and Emari Demercado are all injured. It is Ingram’s turn to be the lead back. He had a nice game against the Rams, rushing 10 times for 40 yards.

However, outside of that game, he has 24 yards on 14 carries.

The only chance the Cardinals have of being competitive is a consistent running game.

TE Trey McBride

Alex Gallardo-USA TODAY Sports

McBride had 10 catches for 95 yards and a touchdown last week. He is beginning to carve out an important role in the offense.

The Cardinals have not had a 100-yard game from a tight end since 1989.

He could be a favorite target of Tune.

LB Dennis Gardeck

Arizona Cardinals linebacker Dennis Gardeck (45) celebrates his sack of New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) in the first half at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Sept. 17, 2023.

Gardeck has four sacks this season but it has been four games since he had any.

WR Rondale Moore

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

With the Browns’ No. 3 cornerback out in Greg Newsome, Moore has a chance to make plays. And with the Cardinals lean at running back, it is quite possible we see several plays with Moore lined up in the backfield.

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