Arizona Cardinals' Rodney Hudson and Trayvon Mullen Jr. get a shot at former team Sunday

Two current Arizona Cardinals with ties to the Las Vegas Raiders face their former team this Sunday at Allegiant Stadium.

Center Rodney Hudson is expected to play and cornerback Trayvon Mullen Jr. was limited in practice this week with a toe injury but has a chance to play. Hudson was a Raider for five seasons before going to the Cardinals in 2021, and Mullen spent three seasons, one in Oakland and two in Las Vegas, before being traded to the Cardinals last month.

"I made a lot of good friends there, played a long time there. Every year is different. Every coaching staff was different. So I just made the best of my time there," Hudson said.

"I look forward to every game. I've been in this position before, you know, I left one place and went to another. Every game is a blessing to be able to be healthy and participate and compete," Hudson said.

Hudson played only one season in Las Vegas, the Raiders' first one there after moving from Oakland. It was in 2020 in the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic and there was no atmosphere in the brand new stadium near the south end of the Las Vegas Strip.

He'll finally get to experience an actual Raiders regular season NFL atmosphere Sunday.

"I really didn't get the stadium experience because we didn't have fans," Hudson said. "Oakland was a great city. Vegas is a great city, obviously great fans. We really don't have a say in any of that (moving to a new location), so it is what it is."

Mullen said he feels he will be able to play against his former team. He's listed as questionable for Sunday, and spent some practice time this week shadowing starting cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. to get a better feel for the defense.

"In general, I just want to be healthy and be able to play and get out there with the guys anyways and just have fun with it," Mullen said.

Mullen didn't play in the preseason and has played in just one game since Oct. 4, 2021, but Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury feels Mullen can contribute despite not having practiced much.

"We'll limit the menu and make sure we're doing things he understands and can play fast and not think too much," Kingsbury said. "But with a limited number of corners it would be nice to have an extra body, that's for sure."

Tight end Stephen Anderson grew up in in the San Francisco Bay Area and played in college at Cal when the Raiders were still in Oakland. That will give him added fire going against the Silver and Black.

Anderson also said that he looks forward to speaking with his best friend, a huge Raiders fan, after the game.

For subscribers: Cardinals-Raiders: Will Arizona blitz succeed against Vegas?

Playing status update

Kingbsury is hopeful that starting left guard Justin Pugh will be able to play Sunday. Pugh was been limited in practice this week with a neck injury and didn't play in Week 1, with Sean Harlow stepping in. Pugh is a gameday decision.

Max Garcia, signed last week prior to the Kansas City game, would be the backup to Harlow if Pugh can't play. Safety Jalen Thompson, who did not practice Wednesday and Thursday due to a toe injury, worked on the field Friday and also has a chance to play Sunday. He will be a game-time decision.

Defensive lineman J.J. Watt got in some work in practice for the second straight day Friday. Pugh, Thompson and Watt are officially questionable for Sunday.

Starting wide receiver Marquise "Hollywood" Brown was limited in Friday's practice for rest purposes. Wide receivers Rondale Moore (hamstring) and Andy Isabella (back) are out for this week, having not practiced.

Related: Kingsbury: 'We’ve got to be better' after Week 1 loss to Kansas City Chiefs

Ertz, on football and family

Cardinals tight end Zach Ertz said the calf injury he dealt with "God willing, is behind me," and it appeared that way with the veteran practicing in full twice this week.

Ertz said the Raiders' defense starts with defensive ends Maxx Crosby and former Cardinal Chandler Jones.

"He doesn't get the respect he deserves around the league," Ertz said of Crosby, who has 25 career sacks in three-plus NFL seasons and had eight solo tackles and two quarterback hits in Week 1 against the Los Angeles Chargers.

As the father of a newborn, Ertz has learned to get as much football work done as he can at the Cardinals facility so he can go home and spend time with his wife Julie and their son, Madden.

"It's so much fun just seeing him grow each and every day," Ertz said. "Seeing how he loves his mom, seeing how Julie loves him, it's just fun. It's just a different part of life, the next journey in life for me and Julie. But I also love doing this (playing football), so I'm not going to stop doing this at all anytime soon. But it's fun to go home and have such a bigger purpose each and every day."

More Cardinals news: QB Murray hopes to throw more to Hollywood Brown, others more regularly | Cardinals trying to fix 'operation' of defense after Week 1

Get in touch with Jose Romero at Jose.Romero@gannett.com. Find him on Twitter at @RomeroJoseM. 

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona Cardinals' Rodney Hudson, Trayvon Mullen Jr. to face former team