Today begins the Arizona Cardinals’ first “game week,” as they play their preseason opener on Saturday against the New Orleans Saints. They are five days from that game.
But they are just 34 days away from their first game of the regular season, when they face the Buffalo Bills on the road.
No. 34 has been an impact number for a few years. It belongs to safety Jalen Thompson. He enters his sixth season with the team. He has been a starting safety since the second half of his rookie season in 2019.
He has had two seasons with at least 100 tackles. He has nine career interceptions. He is reliable in coverage and a sure tackler. He likes to hit hard.
Were it not for Budda Baker alongside him at safety, he would get more attention for his solid play.
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