Cardinals' Max Melton: Still dealing with heel injury
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Melton (heel) did not practice Wednesday, Zach Gershman of the Cardinals' official site reports.
Melton was held out of Arizona's Week 13 loss to the Jaguars with the same issue. He managed two limited practices last week, so it's unclear if he's suffered a setback.
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Cardinals' Max Melton: Inactive Sunday
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Melton (heel) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Buccaneers.
The cornerback was limited in practice Wednesday, missed Thursday's session and was limited again Friday. In his absence, Denzel Burke should get the start.
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Cardinals' Max Melton: Questionable for Sunday
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Melton (heel) is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's game against the Buccaneers, Bo Brack of GoPHNX.com reports.
Melton was a limited participant Friday after suffering a setback that rendered him unable to participate in Thursday's session. The cornerback's ability to suit up for Sunday's game will likely hinge on whether he suffers another setback over the weekend. If the 23-year-old cannot suit up, Denzel Burke will once again play outside corner for the Cardinals, this time replacing Melton instead of fellow outside cornerback Will Johnson.
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Cardinals' Max Melton: Downgrades to DNP
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Melton (heel) did not participate in Thursday's practice, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports.
Melton was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice, but he apparently suffered a setback with the heel injury he likely sustained during the Cardinals' Week 12 overtime loss to the Jaguars. The downgrade in practice participation is a bad sign for the starting cornerback's chances to suit up for Sunday's game against the Buccaneers.
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Cardinals' Max Melton: Nursing heel injury
Rotowire
Melton (heel) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice, Zach Gershman of the Cardinals' official site reports.
Melton likely picked up the injury during the Cardinals' Week 12 overtime loss to the Jaguars, when he played just 25 snaps (15 on defense, 10 on special teams) while logging on tackle. Melton will have two more chances to increase his practice participation to avoid an injury tag for Sunday's game against the Buccaneers. He has accumulated 31 tackles (21 solo) and five pass defenses across nine regular-season games.
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Cardinals' Max Melton: Looking good for Sunday
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Melton (concussion) does not carry an injury designation ahead of Sunday's game versus the 49ers, Zach Gershman of the Cardinals' official site reports.
Melton was able to log a full practice for the first time since suffering a concussion in Week 9 at Dallas on Friday, and he projects to play in Week 11. He should fill back into a near-every down role at corner across from a San Francisco receiving corps headlined by Jauan Jennings and 2024 first-rounder Ricky Pearsall.
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Cardinals' Max Melton: Dons non-contact jersey Thursday
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Melton (concussion) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice, Zach Gershman of the Cardinals' official site reports.
Melton has opened the week with back-to-back limited practices, and he was spotted wearing a yellow non-contact jersey during Thursday's session, per Theo Mackie of The Arizona Republic. Melton was unable to play in Week 10 while in the league's five-step concussion protocol, and he would need to be cleared by an independent neurologist in order to play in Sunday's NFC West tilt against the 49ers.
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Cardinals' Max Melton: Out for Week 10
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Melton (concussion) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Seahawks, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.
The 23-year-old from Rutgers was unable to clear concussion protocol in time to play in Week 10. He's operated as one of the Cardinals' top boundary cornerbacks this season, recording 26 total tackles and four passes defended across seven appearances. With Melton and Will Johnson (back) both sidelined Sunday, Denzel Burke and Elijah Jones are expected to start as Arizona's top outside corners.
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Cardinals' Max Melton: Estimated to not practice
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Melton (concussion) was estimated to be a nonparticipant at Wednesday's walkthrough, Zach Gershman of the Cardinals' official website reports.
Melton suffered a concussion in the team's 27-17 win over the Cowboys in Week 9, and he has now opened the week on the sidelines at practice. The cornerback will have two more chances to return to practice this week, and he will have to clear concussion protocol in order to play Sunday in Seattle.
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Cardinals' Max Melton: Possible concussion
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Melton is being evaluated for a possible concussion and is questionable to return to Monday's game against the Cowboys.
Melton took a hit to the head during the second quarter of Monday's game, and he is being evaluated by medical staff to determine whether he can return. Denzel Burke and Kei'Trel Clark are candidates to see more snaps at outside corner for as long as Melton is out of the game.
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Cardinals' Max Melton: Still tending to hamstring issue
Rotowire
Melton (hamstring) was a limited participant at practice Wednesday, Zach Gershman of the Cardinals' official site reports.
Melton sat out in Week 5 versus the Titans after hurting his hamstring during practice, and now his availability for Week 6 is in jeopardy. He'll likely need to manage a full practice Thursday or Friday to avoid carrying an injury designation into the weekend.
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Cardinals' Max Melton: Won't play Week 5
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Melton (hamstring) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Titans, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.
Melton injured his hamstring in practice late in the week, and the injury is severe enough for the second-year corner to miss his first game of the regular season. Denzel Burke and Elijah Jones are the top candidates to start at outside corner in Melton's absence.
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Cardinals' Max Melton: Dealing with hamstring issue
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Melton (hamstring) is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Titans.
Melton practiced in full all week, but it now appears he's sustained a hamstring injury that could sideline him in Week 5. The second-year corner has tallied 14 total tackles and three passes defended through Arizona's first four games this season. If he's forced to miss Sunday's contest, Elijah Jones is likely to see increased work with the Cardinals' first-team defense.
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Cardinals' Max Melton: Cleared for Week 3
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Melton (knee) is active for Sunday's clash against the 49ers.
Melton exited last Sunday's game against the Panthers due to a knee injury but was able to log three limited practices this week. He entered the weekend deemed questionable to play but will ultimately be able to suit up as one of the Cardinals' starting cornerbacks for Sunday's NFC West battle between 2-0 teams.
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Cardinals' Max Melton: Done for day
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Melton (knee) has been ruled out for the rest of Sunday's contest against the Panthers, Theo Mackie of The Arizona Republic reports.
Melton was carted to the locker room with a knee injury in the first half, and his day has now officially come to a premature end. The cornerback compiled two solo tackles before his departure, and in his place, Denzel Burke will likely continue to see an increase in workload in Arizona's secondary.
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Cardinals' Max Melton: Past shin issue
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Melton (shin) has no injury designation ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Panthers, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports.
Melton appeared to be in jeopardy of missing the Cardinals' Week 16 contest after opening the week of practice with consecutive limited sessions due to a shin injury. The rookie corner from Rutgers then practiced in full Friday, indicating that he's already recovered from the injury. With Melton back at full health, he's expected to serve as one of the Cardinals' top rotational outside cornerbacks Sunday.
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Cardinals' Max Melton: Limited Wednesday
Rotowire
Melton (shin) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports.
The 2024 second-round pick logged two total tackles over 16 defensive snaps in Arizona's Week 15 win over New England before exiting the game with a shin injury. Melton's practice participation Thursday and Friday will likely offer the best insight into whether he can play through the issue in Week 16, when the Cardinals face the Panthers.
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Cardinals' Max Melton: Questionable to return Sunday
Rotowire
Melton (shin) is questionable to return to Sunday's contest against the Patriots, Tyler Drake of ArizonaSports.com reports.
Melton is dealing with a shin injury and his status for the rest of the game is now up in the air. In the meantime, Kei'Trel Clark stands to operate in a more significant role in Arizona's secondary while Melton is unavailable.
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Cardinals' Max Melton: Active for Week 12
Rotowire
Melton (illness) is active for Sunday's game against Seattle, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.
Melton was in danger of missing Sunday's game due to an illness, but he appears to have recovered enough to be available for Sunday's game. He'll provide depth in the secondary behind starting corners Starling Thomas and Sean Murphy-Bunting.
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Cardinals' Max Melton: Dealing with illness
Rotowire
Melton (illness) did not participate at the Cardinals' practice Thursday, Theo Mackie of The Arizona Republic reports.
Melton popped up on the practice report with an undisclosed illness Thursday, forcing him to sit out. The cornerback will look to return to practice Friday, but if he is ultimately unavailable for Sunday's contest against the Seahawks, Kei'Trel Clark would stand to see an increase in workload at cornerback.
