Arizona Cardinals coach Bruce Arians was feeling really good about his wide receivers a few months ago. But after a few weeks of training camp and two preseason games, that has changed.
“I must’ve been seeing things back in the spring when I said we had had 12 guys who could play in the NFL,” Arians said after practice Monday. “We might have two.”
Arians has never been one to hold his tongue, so his comments aren’t out of character at all. He singled out Larry Fitzgerald and Jaron Brown for praise, but has been frustrated by the rest of the group.
“Assignments, catching the ball,” Arians said. “The main things the receivers have to do, they are not doing.”
In the team’s 20-10 win over the Oakland Raiders on Saturday, running back Andre Ellington led the team with four receptions. Brittan Golden caught a 26-yard pass in the game, the only reception for the Cardinals that netted more than 15 yards.
Much of the problem for Arizona has been a rash of injuries for the team’s receivers. Chad Williams, Aaron Dobson, Golden, and John Brown have all missed time and Arizona may sign a new receiver due to a combination of the injuries and lackluster performance from the receivers.
"We'll look around, see who is available," Arians said.
If new receivers are added to the mix, it could mean the end of the road for at least one Cardinals receiver.
“They’ve been warned,” Arians said.
With less than four weeks until the regular season opener, the Cardinals receivers have been put on notice. Start impressing Arians soon or it’ll be time to find another job.