Colt McCoy expected to start at QB for Arizona Cardinals Sunday vs. Atlanta Falcons
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Colt McCoy cleared concussion protocol, head coach Kliff Kingsbury said Wednesday, and appears set to start the team's second-to-last game of the season in Atlanta on Sunday.
McCoy was injured while being tackled on a quarterback run at Denver in the third quarter and replaced by Cardinals No. 3 quarterback Trace McSorley, who started last Sunday's game against Tampa Bay and played the entire game.
"Opportunities to play don't grow on trees," McCoy said, adding that he wanted to play again this season because of the love and respect he has for his teammates and coaches and that he wants the team to get a win before the season is over.
"We've had a lot of things going on this year that we can't control and the ball hasn't bounced our way sometimes," McCoy said. "But we're going to fight. And I want to be a part of that."
McCoy, a backup over much of his 12-year career, has started three games and played in four for the Cardinals in 2022. It's his second season with the team.
Budda Baker's toughness
Kingsbury called Cardinals safety Budda Baker "incredible" for continuing to play last week after suffering what later was determined to be a fractured shoulder. Kingsbury said Baker was injured somewhere around the late third quarter or early fourth.
"He just kept playing and he acted like it was just kind of a, I don't know, a bruise," Kingsbury said. "I've never seen anything like it on a football field. You talk about tenacity and toughness and just doing whatever it takes to try and win a game."
The game went into overtime and Baker took some hard hits trying to make tackles.
"He was definitely in pain. But yeah, I can't say enough superlatives about what he's about and what he means to this organization," Kingbury said, adding that the injury needs only rest and not surgery, and that Baker should be OK for offseason activities.
Baker was placed on injured reserve Wednesday, ending his season along with that of defensive lineman Trysten Hill, who was hurt in last Sunday's game.
Beachum plays hurt
Cardinals offensive lineman Kelvin Beachum did not take part in the team's walk-thru session Wednesday, as he has dealt with injuries to a knee and ankle since the Denver game Dec. 18. Beachum played all 76 offensive snaps in the Tampa Bay game despite his discomfort.
"Could barely get down in his stance, and battled all night and gave us a chance to win," Kingsbury said of Beachum. "So he's another guy, you know, 11-year vet(eran), going to be a free agent, could have cashed it in. But he wants to play and finish what he started with his teammates, says a lot about him."
Quick outs
Running back James Conner and wide receiver A.J. Green did not take part in Wednesday's on-field work due to illness. Cornerback Antonio Hamilton (hip) and cornerback Marco Wilson (neck) also sat out.
The Cardinals signed WR Pharoh Cooper and defensive lineman Manny Jones to the active roster from the practice squad, designated offensive lineman Lachavious Simmonsto return from the practice squad injured reserve list, signed long snapper Hunter Bradley, CB Jordan Miller and CB Chris Wilcox to the practice squad and placed CB Nate Hairston on the practice squad injured reserve list.
Get in touch with Jose Romero at Jose.Romero@gannett.com. Find him on Twitter at @RomeroJoseM.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Colt McCoy likely to start as quarterback for Arizona Cardinals Sunday vs. Atlanta Falcons
