Cardinals training camp: Inside linebacker competition is not what you initially thought
The Arizona Cardinals have a number of positions to watch where there is competition for playing time and starting jobs. One position to watch is at inside linebacker, but it isn't the competition many thought it would be.
As the Cardinals did not re-sign Kyzir White, who was the "Mike" linebacker the last two season, making defensive calls, someone would have to replace him. Many believed that there would be competition.
That is not the case. Mack Wilson, who played the "Will" last season, has been the guy replacing White. The competition is coming at the other linebacker spot, which will have a different starter in this defense for the third consecutive year.
In 2023, it was Josh Woods. Last year, it was Wilson. Now it is a battle between free agent addition Akeem Davis-Gather, former 2023 fifth-round pick Owen Pappoe and rookie fourth-round pick Cody Simon.
"They're doing a good job right now," said head coach Jonathan Gannon on Friday. "I feel good about all those guys where they're trending right now. The competition um for the different spots is is heavy."
Davis-Gaither is getting reps at both linebacker spots and is a veteran in his first year with the team. Pappoe is the most experienced with two full years with the Cardinals under his belt, while Simon is a rookie.
Gannon said both positions are "mirrored" mostly, meaning they do a lot of the same things, but the playing time and roles will differ. The Cardinals often go with a big nickel package with only one inside linebacker on the field. Wilson was in that role last year. Now he will presumably play almost every down. Whoever plays alongside will get fewer defensive snaps because of that package.
All three have had first-team reps in practice so far.
It is a position to watch for plays, playing time and preseason snaps.
Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
27 minutes ago
- USA Today
What is Madden's 99 club? History of NFL video game's top-rated players
EA Sports is soon set to release Madden 26, the latest edition of its popular NFL video game franchise. As fans and gamers alike look forward to its release, one question will be on their collective minds. Who will be the top-rated players in the game? Madden only gives a handful of NFL players the top mark in its game every year. The franchise announced in advance of its release that Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley would be a part of the exclusive "99 Club" after logging the NFL's ninth-ever 2,000-yard rushing season. What exactly is Madden's 99 Club? Here's what to know about the honor and how many times the 99 rating has been doled out by the game's developers and ratings adjusters. MADDEN 99 CLUB: Saquon Barkley, Josh Allen highlight top-rated players for 2025 What is the 99 Club in Madden? The 99 Club is a nickname given to the NFL players who achieve the highest possible rating in EA Sports' "Madden" video game franchise. The honor is an exclusive one, as Madden developers chose only a handful of players to get the game's top rating – which has been capped at 99 since the release of Madden 2002 – each year. Since Madden 2002, no more than seven players have qualified for The 99 Club in a single season. There have been at least three players each year to earn an initial 99 rating in the game over that same period. Madden 99 Club full list, history of 99 ratings Madden has issued 129 total 99 overall ratings since the release of Madden 99. They are as follows: Since 1999, only one game has had no players with a rating of 99 or better. That was in 2001, when no player exceeded a rating of 96. Most 99 ratings in Madden history Aaron Donald has the most 99 overall ratings in Madden history with seven. The eight-time All-Pro earned a 99 in every edition of the game from Madden 18 to Madden 24, which was the last one in which he appeared before his retirement. A total of 29 players have had multiple 99 ratings since the 1999 edition of the game. Below is a full list of those players: Has Madden ever issued a 100 rating? Yes, it has. In both Madden 99 and Madden 2000, the top-rated players in the game had a rating of 100. A total of seven players earned the coveted eight 100s handed out during the game's early years. They are as follows: Deion Sanders is the lone player to receive multiple 100 overall ratings.
USA Today
27 minutes ago
- USA Today
Eagles' All-World cornerback Cooper DeJean makes his debut on the NFL's Top 100 list
After becoming a finalist for the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year award, Eagles all-world slot cornerback Cooper DeJean made his debut on the Top 100 list at No. 60 The Eagles drafted Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean in the first two rounds of last April's NFL draft, and the results were championship-worthy. Philadelphia was 2-2 entering the Week 5 bye, but lost one regular-season game after DeJean was inserted into the lineup in place of Avonte Maddox. The Eagles defeated the Chiefs in Super Bowl 59, and finished the year with both Mitchell and DeJean being finalists for the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year award. With James Bradberry and Darius Slay departing, DeJean will have an even more critical role in Vic Fangio's defense this season, and he's spent the offseason working out with NFL Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain. After a dynamic rookie season, DeJean was just ranked No. 60 best in the NFL's Top 100 Players of 2025, becoming the first Eagle to make the list this year. DeJean logged 51 tackles (38 solo) as a rookie, including 0.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and three fumble recoveries across 16 regular-season games in 2024. DeJean's biggest and best moment came in Super Bowl LIX against the Chiefs, when he picked off Patrick Mahomes for a 38-yard interception return for a touchdown on his birthday.
USA Today
27 minutes ago
- USA Today
Cowboys QB Joe Milton III takes shot at Patriots in team comparison
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Joe Milton III, who was traded by the New England Patriots back in April, noted one key difference between the two teams was in the quarterback room. He called Cowboys starting quarterback Dak Prescott a "great leader" and noted that the veteran goes out of his way to help him behind the scenes. The 2024 sixth-round draft pick also said that he's been in "another building" where things were different. It seemed like a direct shot at the Patriots. "Dak is a great leader. He literally goes out of his way to help me, no matter if the coach is talking in the meeting," Milton said, via "... I've been in another building. I know how that goes. It's just very different over here." Milton was drafted to the Patriots behind Drake Maye, who was the No. 3 overall pick of the 2024 NFL draft. The Patriots also had veteran Jacoby Brissett at quarterback, leaving Milton as the No. 3 option on the depth chart. Milton got most of the snaps in the Patriots' finale against the Buffalo Bills last season. Granted, the Bills rested most of their starters for the playoffs, but Milton went 22-of-29 passing for 241 yards and one touchdown. He also recorded a rushing touchdown in the game. Milton's comments are interesting considering Brissett was in the quarterback room in New England. There wasn't much he could have learned at the time from Maye, who was one of the youngest quarterbacks in the league. With that said, Prescott is a three-time Pro Bowl quarterback with nearly 10 years of NFL experience. We'll see if that success rubs off on Milton, who looks to be the No. 2 option at quarterback for the Cowboys. Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook.
