To say the least, it was an eventful Week Nine for the Arizona Cardinals. After news broke during the bye week that the team was moving on from veteran wide receiver Zay Jones, fans were left intrigued to see what the decision would be in terms of replacing him. It was evident from the first few games that Jones was going to be more of a locker-room presence, with minimal on-field contributions. After long discussions, it was deemed in the best interest of his career to start a new chapter elsewhere. His replacement? Rookie wideout Kaden Prather, a seventh-round draft pick by the Buffalo Bills who spent the first few weeks of the season bouncing around practice squads before the Cardinals signed him off the Patriots’ practice squad and onto their main roster.
Fans were left curious when Coach Gannon explained that the rookie would have a big role on the team. That question was answered when Prather was listed as the number two wide receiver on the depth chart behind Marvin Harrison Jr., signaling the team’s belief in his bright future. However, his debut was not the type of game that leaves a strong first impression on a fanbase or coaching staff. Statistically, Prather finished with two receptions for 44 yards and a touchdown, but that didn’t tell the whole story.
On his first career catch in the second quarter, Prather secured a five-yard grab to move the chains—until he was stripped by a Cowboys defensive back, leading to a fumble and turnover. His struggles continued in the second half. With the Cardinals trailing by one score, Prather beat veteran DB Elam on a go route, and Kyler Murray delivered a perfect throw for what should have been a walk-in touchdown. Instead, the rookie bobbled and dropped the pass, forcing the drive to end in a field goal rather than a touchdown. Throughout the game, he had multiple drops, ultimately salvaging his day with a long touchdown reception late. In hindsight, it was far from the debut you would want from a player who entered the roster as the second wide receiver, but Coach Gannon offered encouraging words to the press after the game:
“It happens. We’re going to come in tomorrow, watch the film, and see what we could have done better as a team—how we could have protected the ball. Prather didn’t lose us the game. We lose as a team. We had four interceptions and struggled to get stops on defense. It’s bigger than one or two plays, even with it being a one-score game. He is young, and we have full faith in him to continue growing as a talent and member of this team.”
Prather also took accountability in his own presser, admitting to his poor debut and acknowledging that a few different plays could have changed the outcome for his team.
On a brighter note, the Cardinals also saw the return of first-round rookie defensive tackle Walter Nolen, who made his long-awaited debut against the Cowboys. Nolen played the majority of snaps, recorded his first career sack, and while his stat line may have appeared quiet beyond that, his impact was undeniable. He consistently generated pressures, disrupted plays in both the air and ground game, and was a noticeable presence throughout the contest. Coach Gannon had this to say about the defensive rookie:
“Obviously, we’ve had our struggles on defense. They’re young and growing day by day. Having a guy like Nolen available immediately helps. Even as a rookie, he’s the type of player who looks like a veteran already. We’re looking forward to watching him grow more and more. He’s going to be a force to be reckoned with for a long time.”
After a rough week overall for the Cardinals and their fans, there are positive takeaways. Rookie Kaden Prather may have stumbled out of the gate, but with continued development, he could still prove valuable to the offense. Meanwhile, Walter Nolen shined in his debut and looks poised to become a cornerstone of the young defense. As the Cardinals continue their push toward the playoffs, the team and fans alike will be watching closely to see how these rookies grow and impact the season ahead.
