Tyrann Mathieu will miss another game due to a lingering shoulder issue.
The Arizona Cardinals are making one last push for the playoffs this season, but they’ll do so again his week without a key defensive piece. Tyrann Mathieu’s shoulder injury will keep him out of this Sunday’s game in Miami with the Dolphins.
Mathieu missed three games in November after originally hurting it, then returned against Atlanta. However, he re-injured it in practice and is still not ready to go. When healthy, Mathieu is a terrific safety and slot cornerback. He had five interceptions last season, and is considered one the league’s more exciting players. Injuries have hampered him in 2016, though, and he has just one pick so far.
The recently reactivated Tyvon Branch will likely fill in for Mathieu in the slot this week, and he has the experience and talent to do so adequately. The Cardinals catch a little bit of a break with the Dolphins as well. Miami is 28th in the league in passing yards, and
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25th in total yards. The Arizona has struggled on the road this year, but defensively, they match up well this Sunday, even without Mathieu.
Surgery remains a possibility for Mathieu, but for now, the team is optimistic that he’ll avoid that. The Cardinals are 2-1 in games that Mathieu didn’t play in this season, so they likely remain positive. The Cardinals are 5-6-1. Miami is 7-5 and vying for a playoff spot, so this game is important for both teams.
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