Upon further review, Kliff Kingsbury was wrong; Greg Ward caught that Jalen Hurts pass for a touchdown
Ward caught two first-half touchdown passes from Jalen Hurts, including a toe-tapping score to pull the Eagles within a score in the second quarter.
Greg Ward’s second touchdown catch of Sunday’s 33-26 Eagles loss to the host Arizona Cardinals initially was ruled an incomplete pass from Jalen Hurts. But video review showed Ward indeed got both feet down inside the left sideline, and the Eagles got within 26-20 at halftime.
“Jalen just made a great throw,” Ward said afterward. “I ran a corner route, was able to get my feet down.”
This happened on the side of the field adjacent to the Cardinals’ bench. Ward was asked about his apparent exchange of views with Arizona coach Kliff Kingsbury.
“He was just messin’ with me, sayin’ that my feet was out,” Ward said.
Fox didn’t have enough cameras at the game to give a really definitive look, as former NFL head of officiating Mike Pereira noted on the broadcast. “You’re always looking for one right down the line,” Pereira said.
Scrambled secondary
The usual suspects were listed as inactive for the Eagles in their visit to Arizona. Top corner Darius Slay, who remains in the concussion protocol, did not travel with the team.
Rookie Michael Jacquet and veteran Nickell Robey-Coleman were the starting corners, with Robey-Coleman moving inside in nickel and practice squad corner Kevon Seymour replacing him outside. This didn’t go as badly as it might have, but ultimately, Kyler Murray threw for a career-high 406 yards and three touchdowns, despite a game effort from the replacements.
Jalen Mills remained at safety, as Jim Schwartz hinted early in the week, alongside Marcus Epps, with K’Von Wallace working in. Mills briefly went to corner when Seymour left the game after being shaken up.
Inactive were Slay, safety Grayland Arnold (hamstring), disastrous 2019 second-round wide receiver pick JJ Arcega-Whiteside, third quarterback Nate Sudfeld, running back Jason Huntley, and rookie wide receiver John Hightower.
Avonte Maddox, the normal starting corner opposite Slay, was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury.
Seymour, formerly of Buffalo and Carolina, hadn’t played in the NFL since 2017 until injuries beset the Eagles’ secondary last week against New Orleans.
» READ MORE: Report: Carson Wentz wants out. Eagles QB should shut up and be a good teammate. | Marcus Hayes
Fitzgerald continues to terrorize Eagles
Larry Fitzgerald’s seemingly eternal reign over the Eagles secondary continued on Sunday.
The 37-year old wideout caught his ninth touchdown pass against the Eagles in as many regular-season games. Including the playoffs, Fitzgerald has 12 scores against the Eagles, which is the most he’s had against any team outside the NFC West.
The 17-year veteran is having yet another productive season, going into the game with 45 catches for 346 receiving yards, but he didn’t have a touchdown before Sunday. Fitzgerald entered the league in 2004, along with Jason Peters.