Kelvin

Beachum

Beachum has been dealing with a hamstring injury for much of the early season. Fellow OL Evan Brown (hamstring) was limited in practice while OL Isaiah Adams (thumb) and Christian Jones (ankle) were both full participants. Beachum will likely continue to manage the hamstring injury and play Week 6 after playing through it Weeks 4 and 5.

Beachum missed Week 3 with the hamstring issue but returned to action and played every offensive snap last week. He missed Wednesday’s practice but was back on the field for a pair of limited sessions before being listed as questionable. Beachum should be able to suit up for Week 5 despite the hamstring injury.

Beachum missed Week 3 because of the hamstring issue. Jackson Barton was part of Arizona’s plan to replace Beachum last week but is now on injured reserve. If Beachum can’t suit up this week, Charlie Heck will likely draw the start.

Dortch was added to the injury report on Friday and received a questionable designation. He is good to go for Week 3, but the emergence of Marvin Harrison Jr. relegated Dortch to the WR5 range. Inactive for the Cardinals are OT Kelvin Beachum, CB Darren Hall, LB Jesse Luketa, LB Victor Dimukeje, C Jon Gaines II, TE Travis Vokolek, and WR Xavier Weaver.

Beachum was added to the injury report on Thursday before being downgraded to a DNP on Friday. That puts him on the wrong side of questionable heading into the weekend. Jackson Barton and Charlie Heck are both candidates to be called up from the practice squad and take Beachum’s spot in the lineup if he can’t go.

Beachum is listed as a backup tackle on the Cardinals’ depth chart, but as beat writer Darren Urban points out, he’s the only backup lineman who was with the team prior to cutdown day. Beachum is listed as the backup right tackle behind rookie Paris Johnson Jr. on the team’s depth chart, and could be missed if a starter goes down in Week 1 against the Commanders.

Beachum was a left tackle before signing with the Cardinals in 2020. He switched to right tackle with Arizona and the move has helped him maintain his prowess as a pass-blocker deep into his 30s. Last year, Pro Football Focus graded him as their No. 33 offensive tackle. He has 48 starts in three seasons with the Cardinals. Arizona may look for his eventual replacement in the upcoming draft, but Beachum can be penciled in as a starter for at least one more season.

A late-summer signing last year, ex-Steeler Beachum ended up starting all 16 games at right tackle after Marcus Gilbert opted out. Beachum acquitted himself well on Kyler Murray’s right side, and drew praise for his locker room leadership. It is possible he maintains a starting job for 2021. Beachum turns 32 in June.

The Jets’ starting left tackle the past three seasons, 31-year-old Beachum will provide highly-experienced depth for an offensive line that’s “set” but experienced major injury and ineffectiveness issues in 2019. He should make the Cardinals’ 53-man roster.

Beachum returned to practice last week but missed his third straight game. He looks on track to return Sunday but his status isn’t a lock. With RG Brian Winters (knee, shoulder) also questionable and C Ryan Kahlil (knee) doubtful, the Jets offensive line will be at less than full strength in Week 10.