Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson has been suspended for the first six games of the 2019 NFL season for violating the league's performance-enhancing drug policy. Head coach Kliff Kingsbury is now left with the question of how to replace him during that time.
There is no doubt that Peterson's absence will leave quite a void in the defense. According to Katherine Fitzgerald of AZ Central, Kingsbury still has yet to figure out his approach.
“We’ll see,” Kingsbury said. “We’ll see how it all plays out through training camp and what adjustments will be made. You don’t replace a guy like that, obviously, but on the bright side, you get to Week Seven and he comes back, that’s a huge boost.”
News of Peterson's suspension undoubtedly took the Cardinals by surprise. They had reportedly been in the midst of deciding his future in Arizona after all the significant changes they made this offseason. The coaching staff will now need to find a way to alleviate his absence almost halfway through the season.
Peterson has long been considered the gold standard for shutdown corners in the NFL. He has been selected to eight consecutive Pro Bowls and was named first-team All-Pro three times. Opponents are bound to have a much easier time getting the ball to their No. 1 targets to start the year.
If there is a silver lining, it is that his absence will essentially force the other players in the secondary to step up their game. Cornerback David Amerson is confident in his group's depth, however, it will be interesting to see which player can serve as a temporary replacement.
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