Cardinals Hold Off Panthers 27-22, but Late Collapse and Injuries Temper 2-0 Start

TEMPE, Ariz. — The Arizona Cardinals rallied to a 27-22 victory over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday but squandered most of a 27-3 lead and suffered several injuries in the defensive backfield, leaving the team’s 2-0 start clouded by concern.

Arizona’s trio of young cornerbacks — Max Melton (knee), Garrett Williams (knee) and Will Johnson (groin) — all left the game, and the extent of their injuries remained unclear afterward. Coach Jonathan Gannon acknowledged the unease despite the win, saying he did not want to "take their joy away" but added, "we have a long way to go." A day later he struck a more optimistic tone, calling the issues "all correctable" and pointing to coaching and execution as areas to improve.

Quarterback Kyler Murray, whose team held a 24-point advantage in the second quarter, said Arizona must finish games. "We could be 0-2, but we’re 2-0 with this issue," he said. "I don’t want to make it a thing, but at the same time, we have to finish games. That’s the bottom line."

The Cardinals' defense provided a momentum-swing play early when edge rusher Josh Sweat strip-sacked Panthers quarterback Bryce Young and forced a fumble that resulted in a defensive touchdown, a reminder of the pass-rusher’s impact since signing a four-year, $76.4 million deal in the offseason. Veteran defensive end Calais Campbell added two sacks, including one with 26 seconds left that helped seal the win. Campbell, 39 and in his 18th NFL season, now has 112.5 career sacks and remains a key presence on Arizona’s front.

Arizona’s offense featured strong contributions from its tight ends. Trey McBride, viewed as one of the league’s top tight ends, had six catches for 78 yards, while backup Elijah Higgins added two receptions for 45 yards. Tip Reiman, an important blocker in the run game, missed Sunday’s contest with a foot injury but is expected to be part of the rotation when healthy.

But the running game, a strength for Arizona over the past two seasons, has not reached its usual standard. The Cardinals totaled 82 yards on the ground against Carolina, averaging 3.7 yards per carry. Center Hjalte Froholdt said opponents are now game-planning for Arizona’s rushing attack. "Small details," he said. "They had a good game plan against us. They did some stuff we didn't expect, and you've got to make adjustments."

Second-year wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. had a quiet afternoon, finishing with two catches for 27 yards on five targets as Arizona continues to seek more consistent production from its young pass-catcher.

The injured cornerbacks represent an immediate concern for a group that had appeared to be a strength after Week 1. Gannon said the team would evaluate the players and make adjustments as needed, but the potential loss of depth in the secondary could force lineup changes in the coming weeks.

Arizona travels to face the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. The Cardinals will aim to address late-game execution and the health of their secondary in practice this week while maintaining momentum from a win that preserved an unbeaten start to the season.