Arizona Cardinals offensive lineman D.J. Humphries tore his ACL in Week 17 and has been placed on the Injured Reserve list. Though this will have a minimal impact on the 2023 season with one week remaining, the severity of the injury could keep Humphries sidelined in 2024 as well.

Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon told reporters Wednesday that Humphries would miss the rest of the season and pointed out that it was a significant loss for the team.

“It’s a blow for anybody,” Gannon said. “For us as a team, he’s a captain, one of our premier players. It’s a part of the sport that is really hard. You guys know how I feel about the players and what they put into this, the sacrifices they make. Him being who he is, it’s tough to swallow.”

The offensive tackle exited the team’s Week 17 game against the Philadelphia Eagles in the third quarter after blocking for running back James Conner. The Cardinals went on to win the game.

Humphries, an eight-year veteran and 2021 Pro Bowler, has dealt with a litany of injuries throughout his college and professional careers as an offensive tackle. After signing his second three-year extension with the Cardinals in 2022, he missed the last month of the season with a back injury. Since getting drafted out of the University of Florida in 2015, he has only played three full seasons in the NFL.

ACL injuries are notoriously difficult to return from quickly, especially in the NFL, where players at every position require extraordinary mobility to compete. Because Humphries suffered this setback so late in the 2023 season, it’s possible that he could miss significant time in 2024 as well.

If Humphries is sidelined as long as some expect, the Cardinals will be without a captain and key quarterback protector as they attempt to rebuild after a forgettable 2023 season. Though the team exceeded expectations, due in part to subtly strong performances from the likes of Humphries, the team was never a serious playoff contender at any point.

With Kyler Murray out until at least October as he recovers from knee surgery, the Cardinals will begin the season with either Joshua Dobbs or Clayton Tune under center. The team presumably knows which one will start but head coach Jonathan Gannon is keeping it to himself.

“Guys, I ain’t telling you anything,” Gannon told reporters Wednesday.

It has since been reported that Dobbs is likeliest to start, as he has in-game experience and is currently listed atop the depth chart. Tune, a rookie out of the University of Houston, would serve as his backup in this case. Until one of them steps on to the field, however, or the team confirms the starter in the meantime, these roles could easily be reversed.

Because neither quarterback is allowed to name themselves as the starter, both made statements which alluded to a potential start without divulging details. Tune spoke about his progress in the offseason and his willingness to assist the team as needed.

“I feel confident in my abilities and the progression that I’ve made through camp,” Tune said. “I’m confident in the guys around me to make plays and I feel good about it. “If I were to go in, I feel like I’d feel comfortable and feel ready to go.”

Dobbs, the former Tennessee Titans backup who briefly filled in for Ryan Tannehill and Malik Willis last season, also said that he was ready and would maintain a patient approach as the season wears on.

“So, there’s plenty of time, man,” Dobbs said. “This is my life, football. So, we have plenty of time to lock in on the game plan, hone down those details, work out any kinks and nuances and get ready to play.”

With a low-profile quarterback battle set to go down to the wire, the Cardinals are almost unanimously projected to be the worst team in the NFL this season. A season after firing former head coach Kliff Kingsbury and losing Murray to injury and DeAndre Hopkins to free agency, Arizona simply doesn’t seem prepared to compete with most teams in the league.

In addition to not announcing the team’s Week 1 quarterback, Gannon also provided an update on Murray’s health at Wednesday’s press conference. He did not provide a timetable for his return.

“I’m not a doctor so the timetable and stuff, I don’t know about all of that,” Gannon said. “I know this: He progresses every day. He’s getting a little better every day. That’s not to say there’s not good days and bad days going through that type of injury because he definitely has those. He has been all in. … He’s progressing every day. Every day he makes a little jump in his health and that’s good to see because he’s made a lot of sacrifices since I’ve known him to get to the point he’s at right now.”

The Philadelphia Eagles are undergoing a rebuilding process.

The Eagles fired head coach Doug Pederson after a disappointing season. In his place, the team hired former Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator Nick Sirianni as their new head coach. Philadelphia hired Jonathan Gannon as their new defensive coordinator.

The team traded away starting quarterback Carson Wentz to the Colts for a 2021 third-round draft pick and a 2022 conditional second-round pick. The team is shifting towards the Jalen Hurts era, as he will be their starting quarterback. The Eagles also traded up to draft Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith in the 2020 NFL Draft. Philadelphia desperately needed a top-tier wideout so Smith will fit in perfectly with this team. The offense can be pretty good if Hurts performs and running back Miles Sanders can stay healthy.

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Philadelphia Eagles Schedule:

• Week 1: Sun 09/12 at Atlanta Falcons
• Week 2: Sun 09/19 vs San Francisco 49ers
• Week 3: Mon 09/27 at Dallas Cowboys
• Week 4: Sun 10/03 vs Kansas City Chiefs
• Week 5: Sun 10/10 at Carolina Panthers 
• Week 6: Sun 10/14 vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers 
• Week 7: Sun 10/24 at Las Vegas Raiders
• Week 8: Sun 10/31 at Detroit Lions
• Week 9: Sun 11/07 vs Los Angeles Chargers
• Week 10: Sun 11/14 at Denver Broncos
• Week 11: Sun 11/21 vs New Orleans Saints 
• Week 12: Sun 11/28 at New York Giants 
• Week 13: Sun 12/05 at New York Jets 
• Week 14: BYE
• Week 15: Sun 12/19 vs Washington Football Team
• Week 16: Sun 12/26 vs New York Giants
• Week 17: Sun 1/02 at Washington Football Team
• Week 18: Sun 01/09 vs Dallas Cowboys

NFC East: The division title could go to any team within the division. Last season showed how weak the NFC East truly is, as Washington won it with a losing record (7-9). Despite the weak opponents within the division, the Eagles are probably the worst of the four teams. They finished in last place last season with a 4-11-1 record. They may improve slightly, but don’t expect a division title in 2021.

Matchups: The Eagles’ toughest games on their schedule are against the Bucs, Chiefs, Saints and Washington. Aside from those teams, Philadelphia has a generally favorable schedule. Although they will be underdogs in most games this season, most of their contests are winnable.

Overall: The Eagles are not going to be making big noise in the regular season. This season will focus on building young players and seeing if Hurts will emerge as a franchise quarterback.

Prediction: The Eagles will finish with a 6-11 record.

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