Kliff Kingsbury says Cardinals have 'different sense of urgency' for playoff game at Rams

The key phrases "no energy, no juice" from Kyler Murray summed up the Cardinals' lack of preparation and sense of urgency in their shocking blowout loss to the lowly Detroit Lions on Dec. 19.

Arizona (11-6) has been looking get its juice back after sputtering to 1-4 in the regular season's final stretch since the Cardinals’ Dec. 13th loss to the Los Angeles Rams (12-5). The Cardinals dominated most opponents in their 7-0 start, had the league's best record from Week 4 through Week 13 on Dec. 5, and a 7-0 road record that was blemished when they fell to Detroit.

The Cardinals screamed and hyped each other up in their three practices this week as they enter their highly anticipated Wild Card playoff round at the Los Angeles Rams on Monday.

They split with the Rams in the regular season, and lost at home in their previous Monday night matchup last month to the eventual NFC West champion.

For the first playoff game ever played on the Martin Luther King holiday, the Cardinals are looking to turn General Manager Steve Keim's dream and calculated gamble of rebuilding Arizona from the NFL's worst record 3-13 in 2018 to a playoff contender into a reality.

“Definitely a different sense of urgency. I mean there’s no tomorrow if you don’t get it done," Kingsbury said to reporters on Saturday. "There’s no redos. There’s no ‘hey, we’re already in the playoffs.’ This is it. And then throwing us at a division opponent that we’re very familiar with, we’ve had two really good game, so yeah, there’s been a lot of juice at practice.”

Thirty-one players on their 53-man roster have played in a playoff game.

Now or never isn't the right descriptive for the Cardinals. But many of their veteran players have said throughout this season their current team roster, and possibly coaching staff members, won't be the same next season.

"I come to practice with some good energy every day letting them know that this is a big opportunity,” linebacker Markus Golden said. “I’m not gonna sit around and act like this is a regular game because it’s a big game, and you gotta embrace that and embrace you get to be able to able to play in an NFL playoff game on a Monday night. That’s a blessing. That’s big time ...

"This is one of them games that you live for as a football player.

Watt's up?

The Cardinals have been treading lightly all week about Watt's potential comeback game Monday.

Kingsbury said Saturday the decision for him to play again will "come down to the wire."

They haven't confirmed if he will play after he fully participated in their practices Thursday through Friday. However, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Saturday that Watt will fly with the team for the game, which indicates he'll be on standby for activation after he was designated for return from the injured reserve on Jan. 7.

Watt has not played since their home win over the Houston Texans on Oct. 24 when he suffered his shoulder injury. He had what was expected to be season-ending surgery on Nov. 3 and was placed on the IR three days later.

Game-time decisions for Conner, Moore, Pugh

Kingsbury confirmed his statement from Wednesday that James Conner (ribs) will be a game-time decision against the Los Angeles Rams in their Wild Card playoff game on Monday.

This is the fourth consecutive game that the Cardinals' Pro Bowl running back, top rusher and touchdown leader has been questionable. The first three games in that stretch was because of his heel injury, and he came back last Sunday in their home loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

Kingsbury also said rookie wideout Rondale Moore (ankle) is a game-time decision, and he's missed Arizona's past three games.

Also, their starting left guard Justin Pugh (calf) will be a game-time decision as well.

"Obviously, he's one of our starters and he's done a really nice job for us," Kingsbury said about Pugh. "If he weren't able to go, that would not be ideal but we have other guys that have played at a high level. Whether it's (Sean) Harlow, Josh Jones played in there and done a nice job, so one of those guys would have to step in get it done. But we'll know pregame before the game when we work (Pugh) out if he'll be able to go or not."

Rams without safety starters

The Rams won't have their starting safeties Jordan Fuller and Taylor Rapp against Arizona.

Fuller was placed on the injured reserve Wednesday, and Rams coach Sean McVay told the media Saturday that Rapp won't cleared from concussion protocol in time for kickoff.

That means they'll have to rely on their most recent signee Eric Weddle and backup safeties Terrell Burgess and Nick Scott to replace them.

The six-time Pro Bowler Weddle, 37, was retired since February 2020 before he joined Los Angeles the same day Fuller went on the IR. Fuller suffered his ankle injury in the Rams' loss to the San Francisco 49ers last Sunday.

Injury report, game status

Other questionable Cardinals besides Conner, Moore, and Pugh for Monday's game are defensive tackle Jordan Phillips (knee), RB Jonathan Ward (knee), and cornerback Marco Wilson (shoulder). Conner, Moore and Ward were limited in Saturday's practice. Phillips, Wilson, RB Chase Edmonds (ribs/toe), CB Antonio Hamilton (tooth), tight end Demetrius Harris (shoulder) were full participants.

In addition to Rapp ruled out, Rams RB Buddy Howell (hamstring) is doubtful and WR Van Jefferson (shoulder) is questionable. Rapp and Howell didn't practice and Jefferson was limited Saturday. Stafford (toe), Donald, linebacker Leonard Floyd (back), and CB Darious Williams (shoulder) went through a full practice.

Have tips for us? Reach the reporter at dana.scott@azcentral.com or at 480-486-4721. Follow his Twitter @iam_DanaScott.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Kingsbury says Cardinals have 'different sense of urgency' for playoffs