NFC Notes: Cardinals, 49ers, Rams, Seahawks

Cardinals

• Per ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss, Cardinals HC Kliff Kingsbury didn’t commit to QB Kyler Murray being available in Week 17: “We’ll see how he feels this week. I’m hopeful that he can be in position to play and do what he does.”
• Kingsbury also provided sparse detail regarding OLB Dennis Gardeck‘s knee injury: “It was a knee injury. I’m not going to get into the weeds on that deal.” (Bob McManaman)
• Cardinals RB Chase Edmonds is day-to-day with his injury. (Weinfuss)
• Cardinals placed LB Kylie Fitts on injured reserve. (NFLTR)
• Cardinals activated C Lamont Gaillard from the exempt list.
• Cardinals activated CB Robert Alford from the COVID-19 list. He remains on injured reserve.

49ers

• Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer mentions Falcons interim HC Raheem Morris as a potential defensive coordinator candidate for the 49ers if Robert Saleh takes a head coaching job. 
• NBC Sports’ Matt Maiocco clarifies that if the 49ers decline K Robbie Gould‘s option Saturday, that does not mean they’d have to cut him before Sunday’s game. It would just make him a free agent in 2021. 
• 49ers placed C Hroniss Grasu and LS Taybor Pepper on the COVID-19 list. (NFLTR)
• 49ers activated RB Austin Walter and practice squad FB Josh Hokit from the COVID-19 list.

Rams

• According to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport and Michael Silver, Rams QB Jared Goff is set for more tests on Monday to determine the severity of his broken thumb but he’s unlikely to play in Week 17. 
• Goff will need surgery but he’s currently adamant about putting it off until the Rams’ season is over and trying to push through the injury to play. 
• Rams RB Darrell Henderson appeared to suffer a high ankle sprain in Sunday’s loss to the Seahawks and is considered unlikely to play in Week 17’s pivotal game against the Cardinals. (Rapoport)

Seahawks

The Seahawks have been dramatically better on defense down the stretch in 2020. Getting S Jamal Adams back to full health has been key, as was the trade for DE Carlos Dunlap to bolster a toothless pass rush. After the defense shut down the Rams on Sunday to win the NFC West, Adams went so far as to call the unit the best in the league. Seahawks HC Pete Carroll was a little more measured, but he said the improvement is obvious. 

“There were times during the season where everybody had enough statistics to go ahead and blow us out and like we weren’t worth anything on defense,” Carroll said via Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times. “But this defense is good, and they’ve shown it.”

• Seahawks HC Pete Carroll said DT Damon Harrison told them he was done playing, though he clarified that was just for Seattle and Harrison could end up elsewhere. He added he was “sorry to see him go.” (Condotta)