JACKSONVILLE – Team reporter Kainani Stevens each week during the 2025 regular season will speak with a media member covering the Jaguars' opponent.
Up this week:
Arizona Cardinals digital correspondent Craig Grialou on the Cardinals as they approach Sunday’s game against the Jaguars at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.
Question: We've reached the point of the season where injuries pile up. Where are the Cardinals with that right now?
Answer: Some good news came out on Wednesday. Running back Trey Benson had his 21-day practice window opened, so he has been on the field. Not sure if he will be available come Sunday, but that is at least some good news for a team that has been banged up. Amari DeMercado is not going to play this week, so that leaves Bam Knight and Michael Carter if Benson is unable to go. Also, for the second straight week, wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. is not going to be available because of appendicitis.
Q: We certainly know that Cardinals tight end Trey McBride can always be a game wrecker. What have you seen from him this year and how crucial is he to the offense?
A: Last season was his first full season as a starter, and he had an outstanding year. I think he has been even better this season because everyone knows about Trey McBride now. I believe the stat going into last week's game was that McBride was the NFL's third-most double-teamed pass catcher, regardless of position. There is extra attention on No. 85, yet he still continues to be the focal point of the offense. That was true even with a healthy Marvin Harrison Jr. Wide receiver Michael Wilson and how he played last week will maybe change things up on Sunday. But look, whether it's Kyler Murray or Jacoby Brissett, the tight end has always been the quarterback's best friend. If McBride finds a way to get open, he can elevate his game to another level this season with what he does after the catch. He already has six touchdown catches this season after having just two last season. So, the Cardinals are doing a good job of finding him inside the red zone and making that production mean something on the scoreboard.
Q: A tough couple of weeks for the Cardinals on defense. What do you think the defensive focus is going to be for the team going up against the Jaguars this week?
A: Every week, defensive players say it, but it's about stopping the run. When you look at this Jaguars' offense, especially what they did last week at home against the [Los Angeles] Chargers, they had almost 200 rushing yards. The focal point for the Cardinals will be to stop the run no matter who's running that football, and then try to get into known passing situations. Cardinals Head Coach Jonathan Gannon doesn't believe in the sack number as a winning statistic, but he does believe in affecting the quarterback. We know Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence has eight interceptions this season and he has been prone to the turnover. If the Cardinals can make it a one-dimensional offense for Jacksonville, that would certainly would go a long way towards Arizona getting a win on Sunday.
Q: Can you give me an X-factor player, on either side of the ball, that you feel like will need to have a good game if the Cardinals want to get a win?
A: Offensively, I'll go with the low-hanging fruit in Michael Wilson. Can he do what he did last week? He's probably not going to have 185 receiving yards again. But without Harrison Jr. available, can Michael be that top wide receiver for a second straight week? Defensively, rookie defensive lineman Walter Nolen III has only played three games, but he already is tied for the third most tackles for loss on the team with four. He has found a way to be disruptive on that side of the ball by collapsing the pocket from the inside out. It then frees up someone else like Josh Sweat, Zaven Collins, or Calais Campbell to make a play in the backfield. Nolen was injured earlier in the year, but now he is finally healthy and I've been impressed with what I've seen.
