Top Commanders Weapons Return to Practice Ahead of Cardinals Matchup

The Arizona Cardinals will likely see two top Washington Commanders on Sunday after an encouraging return to practice on Wednesday.

TEMPE -- The Arizona Cardinals had all 53 active players on the roster out on the field for Wednesday's practice, a good sign for the team ahead of their Week 1 battle against the Washington Commanders.

The Cardinals will be without Kyler Murray as he still remains on the PUP list and won't be eligible to return until Week 5, and Zach Ertz is still considered to be questionable after being activated off the list during preseason. 

Arizona remains relatively healthy as the first injury report of the week is due later today, and now the Commanders can say the same after two of their stars returned to practice. 

Washington WR Terry McLaurin (toe) and DE Chase Young (stinger) were both considered a toss-up to play this week. Yesterday, Commanders head coach Ron Rivera wouldn't reveal the status of either in a bit of gamesmanship with Arizona, who are doing the same with their starting quarterback situation.

“Absolutely. I mean, it's all part of it. I mean, I know that the more doubt you can put on in your opponent's mind that the more they got to work and think about and prepare and it might take away from something that might be important or relevant," Rivera told reporters on Tuesday.

"So as far as we're concerned, you know, we'll do what we can and what we have to do and that's how we're going to report it, just based on that.”

Both McLaurin and Young practiced in full pads. 

Terry McLaurin (seen here before practice) and Chase Young (too far away to see) are out here. Commanders host Arizona and the Cardinals’ mystery QB Sunday at sold-out Fed Ex Field. pic.twitter.com/fyDUW4hqm3

— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) September 6, 2023

Terry McLaurin pic.twitter.com/OBALHVBLbw

— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) September 6, 2023

Both would be huge absences to their respective units, though the full pads are an encouraging sign for Washington as we move through the week. 

"They have three really good receivers that to me - like Curtis Samuel, dangerous with the ball in his hand. Terry McLaurin can run, he's strong, he's a physical player, he's an explosive play waiting to happen," Cardinals DC Nick Rallis said yesterday. 

"Jahan Dotson is a crisp route runner, so you got to be able to cover. This is a really good receiving corps from top to bottom. I think even when when Brown or Pringle come in the game, those are good receivers as well."

Cardinals OC Drew Petzing says Washington's side of the ball is very talented:

"I think it's a very talented defense. It's a really well-coached system. It's very sound. I think they play very hard. Certainly the front makes that defense go, and they got a lot of dynamic players up front to get after the passer and they can stop the run," Petzing said. 

"But I think overall, all 11 guys they put on the field are really well-coached and do a really nice job of making it hard on offense."