RG Jones to Get Baptism Under Fire in Hot, Humid and Loud Nissan Stadium

Head coach Kliff Kingsbury confirmed Wednesday that Jones will start.

“He did a nice job when he had the opportunity," Kingsbury said. "Brian didn't get many training camp practices, but he's a guy who we know can play at a very high level and we're very confident in as well.”

Kingsbury noted the improvement Jones has shown, saying he has made “big, big strides. Last year, got most of the reps at (jumbo) tackle and then we slid him in at guard where he hasn't played in a number of years. I thought he picked it up well; very athletic. He'll have his ups and downs, there's no doubt, as he's learning and getting NFL reps, but we like the progress.”

Still, it begs the question: Is progress enough? 

Are the Cardinals making the correct choice, while hoping to get off on the right foot as they did a year ago in San Francisco? Crowd noise on the road could be issue and an adjustment for all the linemen, especially after the experience of 2020 playing in numerous empty stadiums.

Quarterback Kyler Murray has no issues with Jones manning a key interior position where the organization made it a priority in the offseason to become more physical.

Murray said he has “a lot of trust” in Jones. 

He added, “We didn't draft him to just sit on the sidelines. So I hope he’s out there. Now that he’s starting, he's earned it. I'm excited for him. It's a great opportunity for him; he’s a young guy. We'll see what he’s about on Sunday. I know what he’s about, but we’ll see for sure.”

That we will. No doubt, Kingsbury and line coach Sean Kugler will be watching closely.

When asked if it’s Jones’ job to lose, or might things change from week to week, Kingsbury said, “We have a number of guys at that position, so if he needs a break or we're struggling, we won't hesitate to put Brian in or Justin. Whichever five give us the best chance to win that week.”