Tag: Arizona

Dec 15, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr. (70) against the New England Patriots at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Cardinals lose OTs Paris Johnson Jr., Jonah Williams to knee injuries

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Arizona Cardinals’ starting offensive tackles, Paris Johnson Jr. and Jonah Williams, will miss the rest of the season because of knee injuries.

Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon initially ruled them out on Tuesday for Saturday’s game at the Los Angeles Rams (9-6), then the team later placed them on injured reserve. Arizona (7-8) has been eliminated from postseason contention.

Johnson, 23, missed a game for the first time in his career when he sat out Sunday’s 36-30 overtime loss at Carolina. He hurt his left knee in Week 15 against the New England Patriots.

Arizona selected Johnson sixth overall in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Ohio State. He started all 17 games his rookie season, playing 100 percent of the offensive snaps (1,133), and 14 games this season (98 percent of the snaps) before missing Sunday’s game against the Panthers.

Williams, 27, hurt his right knee in the season-opening loss at Buffalo on Sept. 8 and went on injured reserve. He was activated on Oct. 30 and started six games before injuring the same knee in the third quarter against the Panthers.

Cincinnati picked Williams 11th overall in the 2019 draft out of Alabama. He signed with Arizona as a free agent in March.

Offensive tackle Jackson Barton, who was promoted from the practice squad to the active roster, is listed on the depth chart as the replacement for Williams at right tackle. Kelvin Beachum, who filled in for Johnson last weekend, now is slotted at left tackle.

Running backs James Conner (knee) and Trey Benson (ankle) and kicker Matt Prater (left knee) were among eight Cardinals listed as limited at practice on Tuesday, which was an estimation based on the team’s walkthrough, with offensive lineman Beachum getting a rest day. Safety Joey Blount (ribs), cornerback Elijah Jones (ankle) and punter Michael Palardy (illness) did not practice.

–Field Level Media

Nov 30, 2024; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Arizona Wildcats wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan (4) celebrates a touchdown against the Arizona State Sun Devils in the second half during the Territorial Cup at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Arizona WR Tetairoa McMillan to enter 2025 NFL Draft

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Tetairoa McMillan, one of the best wide receivers in Arizona history, will skip his final year of eligibility and enter the 2025 NFL Draft, he announced on social media on Thursday.

Projected as a top-10 draft pick, the 6-foot-5, 212-pound McMillan finished his illustrious career at Arizona with 3,423 receiving yards, breaking the mark set by Bobby Wade (3,351). In three seasons, the Hawaii native also posted the fourth-most catches (213) and third-most touchdowns (26) in school history.

“Wildcat Nation, this journey has been everything I dreamed of and more,” McMillan wrote on Instagram. “From the moment I committed to the University of Arizona, to every second spent wearing that Arizona jersey … it’s been an absolute honor.

“The University of Arizona has provided me with the platform to grow and chase my dreams. … Thank you from the bottom of my heart. To the best fans in the country, I appreciate you for all of the love and support you have given me these last 3 years. I will always be a Wildcat.”

In 2024, McMillan totaled 84 grabs (ninth in Division I) for 1,319 yards (third in Division I) and eight touchdowns for the 4-8 Wildcats. He also ranked third in Division I with 109.9 receiving yards per game.

McMillan is a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, given to the most outstanding receiver in college football.

–Field Level Media

Nov 30, 2024; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils running back Cam Skattebo (4) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Arizona Wildcats in the first half during the Territorial Cup at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

No. 16 Arizona State blows out rival Arizona with big offensive day

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Cam Skattebo rushed for 177 yards on 21 carries with three touchdowns to lead No. 16 Arizona State to a 49-7 victory Saturday over archrival Arizona in Tucson, Ariz.

Arizona State (10-2, 7-2 Big 12) has put itself in potential position to play in the conference championship game with the victory, the Sun Devils’ first win against Arizona since 2021.

Arizona (4-8, 2-7) ended coach Brent Brennan’s first season losing seven of its last eight games.

The Wildcats allowed Arizona State 643 yards in total offense while they mustered 210.

Skattebo had 113 of his yards and his three touchdowns in the first half when Arizona State led 35-0.

Kyson Brown rushed eight times for 100 yards.

Sam Leavitt completed 17 of 22 pass attempts for 291 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions.

Backup Trenton Bourguet, a Tucson native, completed 2 of 3 passes for 71 yards and a touchdown in his return home.

Arizona receiver Tetairoa McMillan, a projected NFL first-round draft pick, likely played his last game in college.

He finished with six receptions for 68 yards and a touchdown.

Noah Fifita, a preseason Heisman hopeful, completed 14 of 29 pass attempts for 126 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions.

Arizona State scored a touchdown on its first four possessions to take control, leading 28-0 with 6:28 left in the second quarter.

Skattebo scored three of those touchdowns and Leavitt connected on a 13-yard touchdown pass with Jordyn Tyson for the other score.

Arizona State extended the lead to 35-0 with 41 seconds left in the half on a 22-yard pass from Leavitt to Chamon Metayer.

Arizona scored its lone touchdown taking the first possession of the second half 75 yards on eight plays, capped by Fifita’s 28-yard pass to McMillan.

The Wildcats had a chance to cut into the lead more after Arizona State’s Parker Lewis missed a 21-yard field goal.

Arizona was forced to punt on its next possession.

Arizona State extended the lead to 42-7 with 14:55 left on a 31-yard pass from Leavitt to Xavier Guillory. Bourguet had the final score, a 64-yard scoring toss to Derek Eusebio.

–Field Level Media

Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo (4) runs into the endzone for a touchdown against BYU during the first half at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe on Nov. 23, 2024.

No. 16 Arizona State continues playoff push vs. underwhelming Arizona

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Arizona State was projected to have a rough first season in the Big 12, while Arizona was expected to be one of the conference’s top teams upon joining the league.

However, the opposite has played out as the No. 16 Sun Devils get set to square off with the host Wildcats for Saturday’s Territorial Cup clash in Tucson, Ariz.

Arizona was coming off a 10-3 season in which it beat Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl, and new coach Brent Brennan and his staff managed to keep many of the top players — including quarterback Noah Fifita and All-American receiver Tetairoa McMillan — despite the departure of coach Jedd Fisch to Washington.

Meanwhile, Arizona State went 3-9 last season in Kenny Dillingham’s first year as a head coach. The Sun Devils were picked to finish last in the Big 12 media preseason rankings but have emerged as a playoff contender.

Dillingham’s team moved up five spots in the latest College Football Playoff rankings after last week’s 28-23 win over then-No. 14 BYU at Tempe, Ariz.

Arizona State (9-2, 6-2) is in position to play in the conference championship game next week, but the tiebreaking scenarios are complex with the Sun Devils atop the league standings with Colorado, Iowa State and BYU.

Arizona (4-7, 2-6) is not bowl eligible amid a social media outcry of removing Brennan as head coach despite this being only his first year.

Brennan was asked at his weekly press conference if the Wildcats are motivated to potentially spoil Arizona State’s attempt to play in the Big 12 championship game and then possibly the CFP.

“Not really,” Brennan said. “I think it’s more about the fact that we’re playing ASU and what this game means to everybody here.”

Dillingham and Brennan experienced the rivalry from a young age.

The former was raised in the Phoenix area and grew up an Arizona State fan before earning a degree at the school in 2012. Brennan was an avid Arizona supporter in the late 1990s when his brother Brad played against the Sun Devils as a receiver. Brent Brennan, who played at UCLA, is married to an Arizona graduate.

“The mindset is this is the biggest game of the year, every year, and that doesn’t change,” Brennan said. “For us, whether we’re bowl eligible or not, all that matters is we’re playing the team from up north.”

Dillingham must guard against his team feeling the pressure to advance to the Big 12 championship game, while Arizona is playing with nothing to lose.

Cam Skattebo, one of the nation’s top running backs, said the Sun Devils will be ready because of the “brotherhood” they have built under Dillingham.

“The culture has changed man and everybody loves each other,” Skattebo said. “We’ve turned this thing around. But it’s not finished yet because there’s still a process. There is still work to do in the process.”

Skattebo will go against an Arizona defense depleted by injuries. Three of its best players — linebacker Jacob Manu and safeties Treydan Stukes and Gunner Maldonado — have been out most of the season with leg injuries.

Skattebo has gained 1,221 yards on 226 carries with 14 touchdowns.

Fifita and McMillan will test an Arizona State secondary that is 83th nationally, allowing 228.4 passing yards a game.

McMillan became Arizona’s career receiving yards leader with his 115-yard performance last week at TCU.

He has 3,355 career receiving yards, passing his current position coach, Bobby Wade (3,351 yards, 1999-02).

–Field Level Media

Nov 23, 2024; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; Arizona Wildcats wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan (4) catches a pass against TCU Horned Frogs cornerback Jevon McIver Jr. (20) and safety Jamel Johnson (2) in the second quarter at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images

TCU’s TD barrage breaks open tight game vs. Arizona

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Savion Williams rushed for two touchdowns and Josh Hoover threw for 252 yards as TCU pulled away from Arizona in the second half, winning 49-28 on Saturday in Fort Worth, Texas.

The Horned Frogs (7-4, 5-3 Big 12) scored touchdowns on five consecutive possessions, starting late in the first half after the Wildcats (4-7, 2-6) pulled within 14-13.

Williams carried nine times for 80 yards, scoring on runs of 1 and 20 yards in the first half. Hoover completed 19 of 26 passes, with one touchdown and one interception, before being pulled midway through the fourth quarter when the Frogs were up by 21.

TCU took control after leading 21-13 at halftime, going up 35-13 on a 38-yard reception to JP Richardson midway through the third. Arizona kept its hopes alive, ending a 15-play, 75-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Chris Hunter on fourth down on the first play of the fourth quarter. The two-point conversion made it 35-21.

But the Horned Frogs responded with another TD drive, capped by a 6-yard run by Cam Cook for a 42-21 advantage. Arizona added a 70-yard fumble return touchdown with one minute to go for the game’s final score.

Tetairoa McMillan caught nine passes for 115 yards to become the Arizona career leader in receiving yardage with 3,355. He surpassed his receivers coach, Bobby Wade (3,351), at the top spot.

The Wildcats’ Noah Fifita completed 29 of 44 passes for 284 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, which happened on the game’s first snap. TCU promptly scored on a 4-yard run by Trent Battle, and Williams added a 1-yard TD run late in the first quarter for a 14-0 lead.

But the Wildcats fought back, getting a 17-yard touchdown reception by Hunter and field goals of 53 and 43 yards from Tyler Loop to climb within 14-13 with 1:55 go before halftime.

That’s almost how the half ended, but the Horned Frogs converted third-and-18 on the ensuing drive and then gained 24 yards on third-and-25 to the Arizona 20. That set up a 20-yard run by Williams on fourth-and-1 with 13 seconds left for a 21-13 lead.

–Field Level Media

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) runs for a touchdown ahead of New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner (1) during the third quarter at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Nov. 10, 2024.

Cardinals look to continue pre-bye-week, high-flying ways at Seahawks

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When a team is going bad, a bye week is a welcome respite.

But what about when a team is going good?

The Arizona Cardinals (6-4), who have a one-game lead over the three other teams in the NFC West, had last week off in preparation for Sunday’s divisional showdown at Seattle (5-5).

“When you’re in a rhythm, you’re playing good football as a team, you don’t want to stop,” Cardinals tight end Trey McBride said. “We’ve won three or four in a row now and it’s fun. You want to keep this thing going, you don’t want to take this break.”

For the record, the Cardinals have won four consecutive games, defeating the Los Angeles Chargers 17-15, Chicago Bears 29-9 and New York Jets 31-6 at home, and the Miami Dolphins 28-27 on the road.

One of the keys for the Cardinals has been a healthy Kyler Murray. He completed 22 of 24 passes for 266 yards two weeks ago against the Jets and also rushed for two scores.

“He’s got that look in his eye, and when he’s in that mode, he’s unstoppable,” said McBride, who has a team-high 49 receptions. “He’s playing at a really high level right now. I’m excited for him and I’m excited to continue to grow with him.”

Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon called Sunday’s game a “big-time test on the road.”

“Seattle is always loud and the weather is kind of gray,” Gannon said.

The Seahawks are coming off a 20-17 victory against host San Francisco last week as quarterback Geno Smith scrambled for a 13-yard touchdown with 12 seconds remaining. Seattle snapped a two-game skid and won for just the second time in seven games.

“These are the most important games of your season,” Smith said. “I think the way that we came out and we fought, collectively as a unit and as a team, it just spoke to our urgency. I thought the way that we practiced all week, I knew we were going to come out and play well and get the monkey off my back.”

Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said his team is treating Arizona’s visit “like a home playoff game for us.”

“Look, we’ve earned the opportunity to be fighting for the lead in the division going into the home stretch,” Macdonald said. “So, that’s the way we’re treating it. It’s very much like a playoff mindset for us at this point. Can’t afford to drop games. You want to have the right to play for these really important games in December and January. You’ve got to be able to execute and put yourself in that situation.”

The Cardinals had just one player miss practice time this week, safety Jalen Thompson (ankle). Veteran right tackle Jonah Williams (knee) was activated off injured reserve after being out since the season opener. The Seahawks were without tight ends Noah Fant (groin) and Brady Russell (foot), wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. (back), defensive end Leonard Williams (foot) and cornerback Dee Wiliams (ankle) at practice.

–Field Level Media

Nov 15, 2024; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Arizona Wildcats quarterback Noah Fifita (11) throws the ball during the first quarter against the Houston Cougars at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aryanna Frank-Imagn Images

TCU defense healthy just in time for air attack from Arizona

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TCU brings the best passing game in the Big 12 into Saturday’s matchup against Arizona in Fort Worth, Texas.

The Horned Frogs (6-4, 4-3 Big 12) rank sixth nationally with 329.6 passing yards per game, and they have some momentum, winning three of their past four games. Josh Hoover directs a big-play passing game, having completed 256 of 378 passes for 3,233 yards, with 22 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

Wide receiver Jack Bech has 982 receiving yards, with 16 catches going for at least 20 yards. He has nine touchdown catches.

Arizona (4-6, 2-5) ended a five-game losing streak Friday night with a 27-3 home win over Houston to keep alive its bowl hopes. But the Wildcats will have to pivot this week from playing against the worst passing team in the Big 12.

The Wildcats came up with three turnovers and four fourth-down stops against Houston, but they are playing without three key defenders due to season-ending injuries – defensive backs Treydan Stukes and Gunner Maldonado, and linebacker Jacob Manu.

The Wildcats tweaked some things offensively last week, inserting Joey Capra as the new right tackle, increasing the use of five-receiver sets and relying more on quarterback Noah Fifita to deliver quick passes.

“We’ve been really diligent the last couple of weeks of putting him on the clock every play and giving him that feedback in practice in the moment,” coach Brent Brennan said of Fifita. “I think we were also a little more consistent up front. … The concept where the ball has to get out fast is what we’re trying to do.”

TCU coach Sonny Dykes said Tuesday that three defenders – linebacker Cooper McDonald, nose tackle Markis Deal and defensive lineman Hakeem Ajijolaiya – are expected to be available this week after missing one or multiple games.

The Frogs’ goal will be to slow down Arizona receiver Tetairoa McMillan (69 catches, 1,136 yards, 7 TDs).

“Right now, they have the leading receiver in college football,” Dykes said. “The guy’s putting up big numbers, Has a huge catch radius, can really run. He’s a big play waiting to happen, so it will be a big challenge for us.”

–Field Level Media

Aug 10, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals linebacker Markus Bailey (41) against the New Orleans Saints during a preseason NFL game at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

NFL suspends Cardinals LB Markus Bailey 6 games for PED violation

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Arizona Cardinals linebacker Markus Bailey was suspended six games without pay for violating the performance-enhancing substances policy, the NFL announced on Tuesday.

A member of the Cardinals’ practice squad, Bailey, 27, has appeared in one game this season, a 17-15 home win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Oct. 21. He played 73 percent (16) of the special teams snaps and none on defense.

The Cincinnati Bengals selected Bailey in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of Purdue. He played in 60 games (four starts) for the Bengals and had 73 tackles, 0.5 sacks, two tackles for loss and four passes defended.

Arizona re-signed offensive lineman Charlie Heck, who had been released from the active roster, to the practice squad to fill Bailey’s spot on Tuesday. Starting right tackle Jonah Williams (knee) is expected to be activated from injured reserve by Wednesday, his deadline for returning to the active roster to play this season.

–Field Level Media

Nov 15, 2024; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Arizona Wildcats quarterback Noah Fifita (11) throws the ball during the first quarter against the Houston Cougars at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aryanna Frank-Imagn Images

Noah Fifita tosses 2 TDs as Arizona beats Houston to end skid

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Arizona’s Noah Fifita passed for two touchdowns, Tyler Loop kicked a school-record 62-yard field goal and the Wildcats snapped a five-game losing streak with a 27-3 victory over Houston on Friday night in Tucson, Ariz.

Fifita completed 20 of 35 passes for 224 yards for the Wildcats (4-6, 2-5 Big 12), who never trailed and went up 27-3 on Quali Conley’s 50-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter. Conley had scored on a 13-yard reception earlier in the quarter.

Houston (4-6, 3-4), which entered the game third-to-last nationally in scoring (15.2 points per game), committed three turnovers and turned the ball over on downs four times, including on fourth-and-goal from the 1 in the second quarter and on a fake punt near midfield in the third quarter.

Loop ended the first half with his 62-yard field goal, breaking the Arizona record of 57, held by four players. Loop added a 51-yard field goal in the third quarter.

Conley finished with 107 yards on 11 carries. Tetairoa McMillan caught six passes for 70 yards and a touchdown. Arizona safety Genesis Smith had an interception and a fumble recovery to go with seven tackles, 1.5 for loss.

Houston, which had won three of its previous four games, failed to reach double-digit points for the fourth time this season. The Cougars’ final scoring chance was thwarted on a fumble inside the Arizona 10 with 4:27 to go.

Cougars quarterback Zeon Chriss completed 16 of 27 passes for 191 yards with an interception. He also rushed for 55 yards on 18 carries.

The Wildcats struck first on a 33-yard touchdown pass to McMillan midway through the first quarter as Fifita scrambled to his left and heaved a pass to the back of the end zone. Arizona preserved the lead early in the second quarter by breaking up a pass on fourth-and-goal from the 1.

Arizona squandered a chance with about four minutes to go before half when holder Michael Salgado-Medina dropped the snap on a 28-yard field-goal attempt.

Houston’s Jack Martin kicked a 49-yard field goal to make it 7-3 with 42 seconds to go before halftime before the Wildcats moved into position for Loop’s 62-yarder. He is 5 of 7 this season on field goals of 50-plus yards.

–Field Level Media