Rodney

Hudson

While it hasn’t been formally announced, the Cardinals are on record saying they expect Hudson to retire. Knee injuries have limited Hudson to just 16 games over the last two seasons, and the team had already restructured his contract to a base salary of just $2.1 million for this upcoming season. We’ll assume this is it for Hudson unless he unexpectedly signs elsewhere.

Initially set to earn a base salary of $8.3 million in 2023, Hudson agreed to a restructured contract back in January that would pay him just $2.1 million in base salary next season. Hudson has appeared in just 16 games in his two seasons with the Cardinals and was limited to four games in 2022 due to a knee injury. A three-time Pro Bowler, Hudson entered the league as a second-round pick of the Chiefs in 2011 and spent six seasons with the Raiders before joining the Cardinals in 2021.

Hudson’s base salary will go from $8.3 million to $2.1 million in 2023. The move gives the Cardinals some cap room while Hudson decides on whether he’ll retire this offseason. The 33-year-old was limited to four games this year before landing on IR with a knee injury.

He didn’t practice all week with the injury and didn’t play in Week 7’s game against the Saints or Week 8’s game against the Vikings either. He may be a candidate for an IR stint. Billy Price started at center against the last two games and will likely do so again in Week 9.

Hudson did not practice at all last week, and he missed the first two sessions this week. He is likely headed for his second absence in a row. Sean Harlow will start again at center if Hudson can’t go.

Hudson did not report to mandatory minicamp and Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury noted that his absence wasn’t excused. He added that the Cardinals and Hudson were “working through some things.” It’s not clear if he wanted out of Arizona or was simply mulling retirement, but that appears to be behind him now. Entering his age-33 season, Hudson is coming off his worst season according to Pro Football Focus. He had been ranked no lower than 11th among centers in the five seasons prior to 2021. Even if Hudson is slightly past his prime, he projects as an above-average option to anchor the interior of Arizona’s line.

Kliff Kingsbury said the absence wasn’t excused and that the Cardinals and Hudson are “working through some things.” Hudson also wasn’t at either of Arizona’s OTA sessions so far. The stalwart center who turns 33 in July signed an extension after he was traded to the Cardinals last offseason, so it would be a little surprising if this is contractual. It’s a noteworthy absence. Hudson is coming off the worst season of his career per PFF grading, as he ranked 52nd among 66 centers.

Hudson has been out for the previous two weeks while on the COVID-19 list. Max Garcia started both games in place of him. Hudson isn’t a massive upgrade over Garcia but his return should improve the continuity of the line. Hudson has 10 starts for the Cardinals this year.

When the Cardinals have been beaten this year, it’s generally been through a lot of interior pressure. Hudson missed some time with a rib injury earlier in the season. The Lions should make sure Arizona’s skill position players handle just fine this week, assuming they make it to Sunday.

Hudson hasn’t played since Week 5. Max Garcia – who is dealing with an Achilles injury himself – has filled in for Hudson over the past month. It’s good for Arizona to have their starting center back, but it likely doesn’t impact Cardinals fantasy assets that much.