Antoine

Wesley

Wesley was already on the injured reserve list but had been designated to return. During his practice window, he was injured in practice and will now miss the rest of 2022. His absence shouldn’t have a big effect on the Cardinals, who will be getting DeAndre Hopkins back in Week 7.

Wesley was designated to return from injury earlier this week, but hurt himself in practice and is undergoing MRIs to confirm the severity of this new problem. Kliff Kingsbury only told reporters at his Friday availability that Wesley suffered a setback and will not play this week. Wesley will likely be lost for the season if the torn quadriceps fear is real.

The Cardinals now have three weeks to activate Wesley before he reverts to season-ending injured reserve. Wesley could see a meaningful role if activated quickly, with A.J. Green dealing with a knee injury. Still, with the Cardinals often struggling, Wesley is off the fantasy radar even in deep leagues.

Wesley suffered a groin injury early in camp and was never able to get back. He is eligible to return Week 5, but his timetable remains unclear. With Wesley out and DeAndre Hopkins suspended, Arizona is worryingly thin at receiver.

Wesley was an exclusive rights free agent, so this was the only game in town. With Christian Kirk gone and A.J. Green likely to follow, 24-year-old Wesley currently slots in as the No. 3 wideout behind DeAndre Hopkins and Rondale Moore. That is a problem for the Cardinals, one they might try to address in the draft later this month. 6-foot-4 Wesley could improve upon last year’s 19/208/3 line as a perimeter target, but he is unlikely to emerge as a 2022 re-draft option.

Running back Jonathan Ward was also re-signed. Both players were exclusive rights free agents. With Christian Kirk and A.J. Green set to hit free agency, Wesely gives the team a backstop at wide receiver. He posted a 19/208/3 receiving line in 2021 and took on a larger role after DeAndre Hopkins went down. Wesley could climb as high as WR3 on the depth chart this season.

Signed to a one-year deal as an afterthought second-year UDFA out of Texas Tech, Wesley made the team and went 19-208-3 on 32 targets as the Cardinals’ sometimes fourth or fifth wideout. Wesley really took on a bigger role from Week 15 on after DeAndre Hopkins suffered a season-ending MCL injury. Wesley became a true red-zone factor with all three of his touchdown catches and 11 grabs in that four-game stretch. The 24-year-old will be back to compete for a job in training camp next summer. He’ll have a leg up on the others after his late-season contributions.

Wesley closes the book on the regular season having caught 11 balls for 95 yards and three touchdowns in four games since DeAndre Hopkins landed on injured reserve. The 6-foot-4 jump ball dunker has been a decent reserve role player, but the possibility for more almost certainly does not exist heading into the postseason.

Wesley, quite stunningly, has three touchdowns over this past couple games as a mainstay in the Cardinals’ three-receiver sets. He’s carved out a role as a trusted red zone target for Kyler Murray (who almost hit Wesley for a second touchdown late in last week’s loss). While his production has been fluky, Wesley should continue seeing a handful of targets with DeAndre Hopkins (knee) sidelined.

Conner didn’t seem likely to suit up against the Cowboys, though he would figure to have a good shot to play in Week 18. Chase Edmonds will operate as Arizona’s workhorse with Conner sidelined. Edmonds saw 24 touches -- and nine targets -- in Week 16 with Conner sidelined. He should be regarded as a high-end RB2 in PPR formats. Antoine Wesley should continue as an every-down player for Arizona with Moore sidelined.