PLAYER NOTES
–DE Markus Golden didn’t practice on Wednesday, but head coach Steve Wilks said it was more of just a rest day for Golden as he continues to fully work his way back from a torn ACL. “You still don’t want to put a lot on him,” Wilks said. “Being able to give him that day today, I think is good. He’ll be ready to go tomorrow.”
–WR Larry Fitzgerald (hamstring), DT Corey Peters (elbow) and CB Bene’ Benwikere (neck) also did not practice Wednesday. According to coach Steve Wilks, the three are day-to-day but he fully expects them to be available Sunday against the 49ers.
–RT Andre Smith (elbow) is close to 100 percent and although he was limited in practice on Wednesday, head coach Steve Wilks said Smith could be in the starting lineup Sunday against the 49ers after not playing the past three weeks. John Wetzel has made the start there in Smith’s absence, but that could change this week. “If Andre is healthy, he’ll slide back in, yes,” Wilks said.
–LB Josh Bynes has emerged as the Cardinals’ most reliable player in the middle of their defense. He’s getting his first extended chance at being a regular starter and has gone from journeyman to potential start in the making. “When you look at Josh, the first thing that comes out is that he’s just smart,” head coach Steve Wilks said. “Josh gets everybody aligned and that’s important within our defense. Seeing certain adjustments and checks and being able to get either the front or the secondary in the right position, that’s what he brings and that’s the reason why he’s out there.”
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: WR Larry Fitzgerald is coming off one of the worst two-game stretches of his 15-year career, having caught just five passes for 37 yards. Part of that might be explained by Fitzgerald nursing a sore hamstring since the start of the regular season. It might also be a sign that at 35, Fitzgerald is slowing down. He’s coming off the best three seasons of his career, however, in which he’s caught at least 100 passes for 1,000-plus yards. Fitzgerald could have a big game against the 49ers. He has more receiving yards (2,169) against them than any other opponent. That’s the third-most receiving yards any receiver has totaled against one particular team.
GAME PLAN: Josh Rosen’s first career NFL start was so encouraging, it’s tempting to think the Cardinals might change their game plans moving forward by focusing more on the passing game. While Rosen’s skillset allows them to open things up in that department, especially when it comes to taking more chances on deep balls down the field, don’t expect head coach Steve Wilks and offensive coordinator Mike McCoy to wander too far from the team’s bread and butter, which is a power running game behind David Johnson. He’s coming off his most productive game of the young season, rushing for 71 yards on 22 carries and catching three passes for 41 yards.
Defensively, look for the Cardinals’ front four to get good push against a banged-up 49ers offensive line that could be without two or three of its starters. This could be a game where defensive ends Chandler Jones and Markus Golden rack up some sacks on C.J. Beathard. Defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche could be a major factor in this game as well if he can take advantage of one-on-one situations and bull his way into the San Francisco backfield. The Cardinals could be shorthanded at cornerback on Sunday, as new starter Bene’ Benwikere is dealing with a neck injury and the man he replaced, Jamar Taylor, has a back problem.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH
–Cardinals RT Andre Smith vs. 49ers LDE Solomon Thomas. Smith hasn’t played in three weeks because of an elbow issue and is expected to be back in the starting lineup this week. He’ll have to be up to speed for this one against an edge rusher like Thomas, who has great quickness and good moves off the snap. Smith is a veteran without very good mobility, so relying on some tricks from his experience will certainly be in order come Sunday.
–Cardinals CB Patrick Peterson vs. 49ers WR Pierre Garcon. The 49ers are banged up just about everywhere, including at the wide receiver position. If Peterson does what he normally does and slams the door shut on Garcon, San Francisco’s only hope might be trying to establish a running game behind tailbacks Matt Breida and Alfred Morris. That should make the 49ers pretty much one-dimensional. But if Garcon can make a big play or two, be it against Peterson or wherever he lines up, that could make things interesting.
