Cards’ Humphries stunned by win
If life imitates art, on Sunday, Cardinals offensive lineman D.J. Humphries became Edvard Munch’s 1893 painting The Scream.
After Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray connected with DeAndre Hopkins in triple coverage in the end zone for a touchdown, a win, and a nominee for play of the year, the expressive Humphries had his jaw dropped, his eyebrows raised and his hands floating in the air near his head as he tried to process what had even just happened.
The television game broadcast caught the offensive lineman’s shocked look for at least 17 seconds, but it seems like it lasted a little longer. Hours, even.
“I just wiped that look off my face this morning actually,” Humphries said Monday. “When I woke up and realized it wasn’t an actual dream, I didn’t dream that.
“So I just now got that look off my face.”
At that point, it was more than 16 hours after the play. That’s a little past the 12-hour mark, the window Humphries said the team had given itself to process the last-second 32-30 win over Buffalo.
The reaction was compounded by a few factors. Humphries couldn’t see Hopkins, not even his jersey, so he thought there may have been an interception. Next, he thought for a moment that the game was over. Then, he realized he couldn’t find a critical piece of equipment.
“Also in this moment of looking crazy, I’m thinking ‘Where is my helmet? I don’t have my helmet. I have to go back on the field, and I don’t have my helmet,’ “said Humphries, who had thrown it off trying to see what happened.
“So then (linebacker) Markus (Golden) comes out of nowhere with my helmet. So it was perfect.”
The Golden helmet pass to Humphries will certainly not go down as the play of the game, but it adds to the lore of that frenzied reaction that followed the “Hail Murray.”
There were a few other layers that stood out in the aftermath. Coach Kliff Kingsbury also noted one of the funnier moments of the whole sequence on Monday.
“I thought it was funny that Kyler, be
ing 5-9, couldn’t see over anybody to see what was going on in the end zone, so he had to look back at the big screen to see if we caught it or not,” Kingsbury said Monday. “So that takes a very heady, very confident athlete to throw that Hail Mary, and then immediately turn and look backwards.”
Corey Peters’ injury status
What was most important about the play was that it gave the Cardinals the win. The highlights, the memes, the GIFs are all second to that. But they certainly help balance out some painful news: Sunday’s game banged up a number of Cardinals players, particularly on the defense.
Kingsbury is not yet sure the status of defensive lineman Corey Peters as the Cardinals prepare for Seattle on Thursday night. Peters injured his knee in the game Sunday and had to be carted off.
“It didn’t look good last night with Corey, and it hasn’t sounded good on
what I’ve gathered this morning,” Kingsbury said Monday. “I don’t any final on that yet, but that’s kind of where it’s at.”
With Jordan Phillips (hamstring), Leki Fotu (ankle), Rashard Lawrence (calf) and Zach Allen (ankle) all working through injuries and even on the injured reserve, the defensive line is thin. Phillips did not practice last week and was ruled out for the game against the Bills Friday. Lawrence is designated for return, after he was placed on the IR on Oct. 17.
“Definitely concern there,” Kingsbury said. “It’s a quick turnaround after a really physical game, so we’ll kind of see how that progresses through the week.”
So even with the quick turn, or especially because of it, the Cardinals will look back to an improbable catch as they gear up for another meeting with Seattle. They just won’t stay frozen in that moment, not again.
“Oh, we’re definitely carrying momentum, we’re definitely carrying good vibes,” Humphries said. “We just kind of have to refocus. We can’t celebrate too long, I should say. We’ll be on a plane in a few days, so we’ve got to kind of hone back in and be prepared.”
Estimated injury report
Neither the Cardinals nor the Seahawks practiced Monday, so the early look at the injury report was just an estimation. But it was a lengthy one at that.
Eleven players were estimated as not practicing for the Cardinals: linebacker De’Vondre Campbell (calf ), tight end Darrell Daniels (ankle), wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (not injury related), wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (not injury related), offensive lineman Justin Murray (hand), defensive lineman Corey Peters (knee), defensive lineman Jordan Phillips (hamstring), linebacker Haason Reddick (neck), safety Jalen Thompson (shoulder), safety Charles Washington (groin) and tight end Maxx Williams (ankle).
In addition, safety Budda Baker (groin/ankle), running back Kenyan Drake (ankle) and cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick (hamstring) were estimated as limited.
The Seahawks estimated nine players as not practicing: tackle Duane Brown (knee/not injury related), running back Chris Carson (foot), cornerback Quinton Dunbar (knee), guard Kyle Fuller (ankle) cornerback Shaquill Griffin (concussion/hamstring), wide receiver Tyler Lockett (knee), center Ethan Pocic (concussion), defensive tackle Jarran Reed (hand/not injury related) and cornerback Neiko Thorpe (core).
Seattle estimated the following players as limited: running back Travis Homer (hand/thumb), running back Carlos Hyde (hamstring), defensive end Benson Mayowa (ankle), tight end Greg Olsen (foot) and linebacker K.J. Wright (ankle).
Extra point
The Cardinals signed linebackers Stephone Anthony and Terrance Smith to the practice squad on Monday.