PHX Reporter

Krys Barnes, who spent his initial three NFL seasons with the Green Bay Packers, found himself back at Lambeau Field in an unexpected capacity due to injuries sustained by the Arizona Cardinals. The team suffered a 34-13 defeat against the Packers, during which several key players were sidelined.

Among those injured was Kyzir White, the defensive captain for the Cardinals, whose departure allowed Barnes to see significant playing time. Reflecting on his performance, Barnes stated, "I've learned to maximize my role, whatever that might be... I try to be able to stay prepared as much as possible."

The Cardinals are set to play next on 'Monday Night Football,' giving them additional recovery time after a series of injuries. Marvin Harrison Jr., a wide receiver for the team, left with a concussion in the second quarter. Additionally, left guard Evan Brown was sidelined with an ankle injury and running back James Conner saw limited action post-halftime.

Defensive players Bilal Nichols and Sean Murphy-Bunting also missed parts of the game due to their respective injuries. Coach Jonathan Gannon expressed optimism regarding their conditions: "but everything is looking pretty good."

Barnes took on an increased workload Sunday, participating in 54 snaps—his most since stepping in last year after White's biceps tear. Discussing his approach, Barnes said he tries "to stay ahead of what's to come," acknowledging that injuries are part of the sport.

In March, Barnes returned to the Cardinals on a one-year contract as a free agent. His experience provided stability when stepping in for White during Sunday's game. Coach Gannon praised Barnes' leadership: "He went in and ran the show... He's as smart as they come."

Despite Monday's disappointment following their loss, Barnes emphasized focusing on improvements ahead of facing the Chargers: "For us it's taking a hard look in the mirror... we've got to do what we can to fix these little things."