• Somers, McManaman report on Wednesday's practice

    Somers, McManaman report on Wednesday’s practice

  • David Johnson speaks for first time since injury

    David Johnson speaks for first time since injury

  • Cowboys are coming: don’t sell your tickets!

    Cowboys are coming: don’t sell your tickets!

  • azcentral sports' Kent Somers and Bob McManaman discuss Cardinals victory over Colts

    azcentral sports’ Kent Somers and Bob McManaman discuss Cardinals victory over Colts

  • Bruce Arians discusses his thoughts about Colts, Cowboys

    Bruce Arians discusses his thoughts about Colts, Cowboys

  • Kent Somers, Dan Bickley discuss Cardinals' win

    Kent Somers, Dan Bickley discuss Cardinals’ win

  • Shot Clock: Cards (eye) roll; ASU's 'real' player

    Shot Clock: Cards (eye) roll; ASU’s ‘real’ player

  • Cardinals game vs. Colts preview with Kent Somers and Dan Bickley

    Cardinals game vs. Colts preview with Kent Somers and Dan Bickley

  • Somers and McManaman on the state of the Cardinals

    Somers and McManaman on the state of the Cardinals

  • Arizona Cardinals running back D. J. Foster talks after Wednesday practice in Tempe.

    Arizona Cardinals running back D. J. Foster talks after Wednesday practice in Tempe.

  • CJ2K mad at Cards; Palmer needs to get right

    CJ2K mad at Cards; Palmer needs to get right

  • azcentral sports' Kent Somers and Bob McManaman discuss Cardinals practcie Wednesday

    azcentral sports’ Kent Somers and Bob McManaman discuss Cardinals practcie Wednesday

  • Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer talks after Wednesday practice in Tempe.

    Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer talks after Wednesday practice in Tempe.

  • Shot Clock: Could the Cards recruit death stare Adrian Peterson?

    Shot Clock: Could the Cards recruit death stare Adrian Peterson?

  • David Johnson seeking a second opinion on wrist injury

    David Johnson seeking a second opinion on wrist injury

  • Bruce Arians discusses loss to Lions

    Bruce Arians discusses loss to Lions

  • Bickley and Somers on Cardinals' season-opening loss

    Bickley and Somers on Cardinals’ season-opening loss

  • Kent Somers and Bob McManaman on David Johnson's injury

    Kent Somers and Bob McManaman on David Johnson’s injury

  • Cardinals vs. Lions: Kent Somers and Dan Bickley preview the game

    Cardinals vs. Lions: Kent Somers and Dan Bickley preview the game

  • Bob McManaman wraps up Cardinals practice on Friday

    Bob McManaman wraps up Cardinals practice on Friday

  • Shot Clock: Chiefs-Patriots lessons for Cardinals

    Shot Clock: Chiefs-Patriots lessons for Cardinals

  • Arizona Cardinals report: Thursday's practice

    Arizona Cardinals report: Thursday’s practice

  • Shot Clock: Cards a slim pick, what are the keys?

    Shot Clock: Cards a slim pick, what are the keys?

  • Cardinals report: How will Bucannon's absence affect team?

    Cardinals report: How will Bucannon’s absence affect team?

  • Shot Clock: Detroit Lions, Super Bowl champions?

    Shot Clock: Detroit Lions, Super Bowl champions?

  • Reaction to Cardinals' move at punter

    Reaction to Cardinals’ move at punter

  • Somers wraps up the Cardinals' preseason finale

    Somers wraps up the Cardinals’ preseason finale

  • Cardinals vs Broncos preview

    Cardinals vs Broncos preview

  • Somers and McManaman wrap up Cardinals' Tuesday practice

    Somers and McManaman wrap up Cardinals’ Tuesday practice

  • Shot Clock: CJ2K stays?; Drown out LA fans

    Shot Clock: CJ2K stays?; Drown out LA fans

  • Sights and sounds from 9th Annual Fitz's Supper Club

    Sights and sounds from 9th Annual Fitz’s Supper Club

  • Arizona Cardinals break camp

    Arizona Cardinals break camp

  • McLellan and McManaman wrap up Cardinals practice

    McLellan and McManaman wrap up Cardinals practice

  • Somers on Cardinals vs. Falcons

    Somers on Cardinals vs. Falcons

  • Cardinals treating final preseason game seriously

    Cardinals treating final preseason game seriously

  • Kent and Bob talk Cardinals game planning and remaining preseason games

    Kent and Bob talk Cardinals game planning and remaining preseason games

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    Bickley and Moore: Cardinals looked ‘sluggish’

  • Shot Clock: Cards' Palmer, 'D' gotta get better

    Shot Clock: Cards’ Palmer, ‘D’ gotta get better

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    Kent and Bob break down Cards’ preseason loss to Bears

  • Somers, McManaman on the Cardinals' 'boring' camp

    Somers, McManaman on the Cardinals’ ‘boring’ camp

  • Somers, McManaman on Arians' anger, receiving issues

    Somers, McManaman on Arians’ anger, receiving issues

  • Shot Clock: Cards WRs stink; anthem issue solved

    Shot Clock: Cards WRs stink; anthem issue solved

  • Insider: Was Arians' criticism truth or motivational chatter?

    Insider: Was Arians’ criticism truth or motivational chatter?

  • Shot Clock: Stanton stands out for Cardinals

    Shot Clock: Stanton stands out for Cardinals

  • Shot Clock: Cardinals protecting QB Palmer?

    Shot Clock: Cardinals protecting QB Palmer?

  • Greg Moore and Bruce Arians talk charities

    Greg Moore and Bruce Arians talk charities

  • Gabbert's big chance, special team auditions

    Gabbert’s big chance, special team auditions

  • Shot Clock: Arians changes tone with Cardinals

    Shot Clock: Arians changes tone with Cardinals

  • Greg Moore and Bob McManaman break down the Red-White practice

    Greg Moore and Bob McManaman break down the Red-White practice

  • Somers, McManaman on Gruden possibility, CB battle

    Somers, McManaman on Gruden possibility, CB battle

  • Shot Clock: Early hiccups for Cardinals

    Shot Clock: Early hiccups for Cardinals

  • Moore, McManaman wrap up opening day at Cardinals training camp

    Moore, McManaman wrap up opening day at Cardinals training camp

  • David Johnson's work load; D-Backs' head games

    David Johnson’s work load; D-Backs’ head games

  • Shot Clock: Cards kick off fan-friendly camp

    Shot Clock: Cards kick off fan-friendly camp

  • Somers sits down with Cardinals rookie Budda Baker

    Somers sits down with Cardinals rookie Budda Baker

  • Shot Clock: Blaine Gabbert a keeper for Cardinals?

    Shot Clock: Blaine Gabbert a keeper for Cardinals?

  • Kent and Bob talk new NFL rules and wide out depth

    Kent and Bob talk new NFL rules and wide out depth

  • Arians Family Foundation Fundraiser at Top Golf

    Arians Family Foundation Fundraiser at Top Golf

  • Report card on Cardinals QB Blaine Gabbert

    Report card on Cardinals QB Blaine Gabbert

  • David Johnson No. 1 on NFL Players Association list

    David Johnson No. 1 on NFL Players Association list

  • Bruce Arians talks about his annual fundraisers

    Bruce Arians talks about his annual fundraisers

  • Keim, Arians striking gold in draft's third round

    Keim, Arians striking gold in draft’s third round

  • Top 3 games in Cardinals schedule

    Top 3 games in Cardinals schedule

  • Larry Fitzgerald holding 7th annual charity softball tournament

    Larry Fitzgerald holding 7th annual charity softball tournament

  • Larry Fitzgerald 1-on-1 with Kent Somers

    Larry Fitzgerald 1-on-1 with Kent Somers

Of the many story lines worth watching on Monday Night Football when the Cardinals meet the Cowboys, one of the more intriguing to follow is the one-on-one matchup between Arizona cornerback Patrick Peterson and Dallas wide receiver Dez Bryant.

It’s a battle that could swing the game, and they both know it.

“Two great players, Pro Bowl players, All-Pro players going at each other all day long,” Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said. “Neither one of them is going to back off, that’s for sure.”

This will be the third meeting between Peterson and Bryant. They’ve each had their moments. In 2011, Peterson’s rookie season, Bryant caught eight passes for 86 yards and a touchdown. In 2014, Peterson held Bryant without a catch until the fourth quarter, when Bryant had two receptions for 15 yards and a touchdown well after the game had been decided.

The Cardinals won both games.

“It’s always a privilege to attract that matchup each and every week, and I think it’s going to be another great matchup between me and Dez,” Peterson told azcentral sports on Thursday. “We should be out there all the time going up against each other. He’s had his fair share of plays, I’ve had my fair share of plays and we’re going toe-to-toe again.”

Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said there is a certain form of artistry in watching two of the game’s very best try to out-do the other.

“They’re two great players and, obviously, we have a tremendous amount of respect for Patrick Peterson,” Garrett said Thursday on a conference call with Arizona reporters. “He’s a tremendous athlete. He’s big, he’s strong, he’s fast, he’s quick, he’s explosive. He’s everything you want at that position.

“… We obviously love Dez. He’s one of our best players and he plays the game the right way, so I think it’ll be a great matchup for everybody.”

Asked if he’d be happy with a certain over/under number on the amount of receptions Bryant gets against him, Peterson had to stop and think.

“An over/under? Hmm,” he said. “You know, I’d be happy with not letting him in the end zone. I can’t give up a touchdown.”

SCOUTING REPORT: Who has the advantage on Monday Night Football?

Injury report

Only two players did not practice on Thursday for the Cardinals – receiver John Brown (quadriceps) and left tackle D.J. Humphries (knee). Listed as limited were inside linebackers Deone Bucannon (ankle) and Karlos Dansby (hip), tight end Jermaine Gresham (ribs), left guard Mike Iupati (triceps) and receiver J.J. Nelson (hamstring).

Arians said Bucannon and Gresham were very active during what he called a very spirited practice overall by the Cardinals. He said Bucannon, who has yet to play a down this season, is getting closer to returning and could be on a “pitch count” Monday night if he plays.

As for Gresham, who didn’t play last week after getting body-slammed by Detroit’s Jarrad Davis, Arians said he loved what he saw from the player on Thursday.

“He was slamming it up in there pretty good today. I pulled him out,” Arians said. “I just didn’t want to have a setback because he was going after it. He knows he can do it, and I didn’t want to see him get hurt.”

The Cowboys had four players who did not practice Thursday. They were cornerbacks Chidobe Awuzie (hamstring) and Nolan Carroll (concussion), linebacker Anthony Hitchens (knee) and defensive tackle Stephen Paea (knee). Cornerback Orlando Scandrick, meanwhile, reported to practice on a limited basis Thursday following surgery to repair a broken bone in his hand.

MORE: Cardinals-Cowboys game tests fans’ allegiances

Holden his own

Rookie offensive lineman Will Holden got the treat of a lifetime last Sunday when he not only made his NFL debut, but was pressed into starting action as a tight end with Gresham unable to play. He performed so well during Arizona’s 16-13 overtime win over the Colts that Arians said he might call upon Holden again as a tight end.

“I think he did a great job for never having done it in his life,” Arians said. “He’s a good athlete. The assignments, he had no mental errors. It’s a package that if we need, we can look forward to.”

Holden, a fifth-round pick out of Vanderbilt, was ecstatic that he was able to help.

“I was really happy to get into that situation as a rookie,” he said. “I mean, coming out and starting your first game at tight end? Whatever I can do to help the team win, you know? And if that’s me at tight end, or catching the football, anything they need me to do.”

What, now he wants to be a pass catcher, too?

“No, no. no. I’m not saying that,” Holden said. “Put me anywhere that’s going to help this team win, though, and I’ll do it. And I’ll be in that playbook making sure there’s no mental errors, no missed assignments.”

Holden said if they ever throw him a pass, he promises to catch it. Just don’t ask him to double as a fullback and carry the ball.

“If you saw my 40-yard dash time, yeah, probably not,” he said.

MORE: Cardinals guard Boone talks rhinos, family and battle with drinking

BICKLEY: Cardinals’ defense must lead the way to the Super Bowl

 

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