Only one player with direct ties to the opposing team will actually step on the field when the Arizona Cardinals battle the San Francisco 49ers in their Week 3 clash. That’s a wild twist for an NFC West showdown that typically features a ton of familiar faces. These teams know each other incredibly well, playing twice a year, but for this specific matchup, the anticipated “revenge game” or “former teammate rivalry” narratives are largely sidelined.
Kendrick Bourne: The Lone Warrior on the Field
The solitary active player connection in this Week 3 matchup is Cardinals wide receiver Kendrick Bourne. He’s the only one on either team’s active roster who used to play for the opposition. Bourne, who inked a two-year deal with the Cardinals just this past offseason, actually had two separate stints with the 49ers. He initially broke into the league as an undrafted rookie and played for the Niners from 2017 to 2020. After four years with the New England Patriots, he returned to San Francisco last season. Now, wearing a Cardinals uniform, Bourne finds himself in a unique position. He’s the one guy who gets to line up against his former squad, bringing that insider knowledge and personal history right onto the field. It’s a situation ripe for some serious competitive fire, even if he is flying solo among the ex-players.
Injured Reserve: The Familiar Faces Sidelines
While Bourne is out there ready to play, three other key player connections are stuck on injured reserve. First up is 49ers wide receiver Christian Kirk. He also signed with the 49ers this offseason, but his journey against his old team is on hold. Kirk was a second-round draft pick for the Cardinals back in 2018 and spent four years playing for them. Imagine the storylines if he were active! Then there’s 49ers offensive lineman Austen Pleasants. This is his third season with the 49ers, but he spent part of the 2024 season on the Cardinals’ practice squad. Finally, 49ers offensive lineman Brett Toth also finds himself on injured reserve. Toth was on the Cardinals’ roster in both 2019 and 2020, though he never appeared in a game for them. These three being out means a lot of the expected “old friends, new foes” banter remains just that: an expectation for another time. It’s tough to see so many connections sidelined for such a heated divisional contest.
Facing a Hot Quarterback in a Classic Rivalry
Despite the reduced number of active player connections, the stakes for this Week 3 NFC West battle are still sky-high. The Arizona Cardinals aren’t just facing a familiar rival in the San Francisco 49ers; they’re going up against a team spearheaded by Brock Purdy, the reigning NFC Offensive Player of the Week for Week 2. That’s a serious challenge for the Cardinals. Purdy earned that honor after a standout performance, and now Arizona has to contend with a red-hot quarterback in a division game. These teams know how to get after each other, and with Purdy playing at such a high level, the Cardinals will need to bring their absolute best to avoid getting burned by the reigning NFC Offensive Player of the Week. It’s a game that promises fireworks, regardless of who’s on injured reserve.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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