Arizona’s J.J. Nelson had big shoes to fill when he stepped into the line-up for the injured Michael Floyd against Cincinnati on Sunday but the rookie receiver took the task in his stride, hauling in four catches for 142 yards and a touchdown.
Nelson has been used sparingly by the Cardinals this season, but with Floyd sidelined due to a hamstring problem the speedy first-year player grabbed his chance to shine with both hands in Arizona’s 34-31 win.
“I rose to the occasion,” Nelson said. “I had big shoes to fill with Floyd having a great season, I just tried to pick up where he left off.”
Even without Floyd the Cardinals boast a stellar receiving cast in Larry Fitzgerald and John Brown.
Nelson, a fifth-round draft pick, showed he could be a major weapon for the Cards down the stretch.
“It’s next man up,” said Cardinals coach Bruce Arians. “We have a quality of depth. J.J. had a great camp and a great preseason then he got hurt. We were waiting for J.J.”
With quarterback Carson Palmer struggling to find his rhythm, Nelson had a quiet first half but the pair connected in spectacular fashion in the third quarter with a 64-yard touchdown.
With the game tied at 31-31 and a minute left on the clock, Nelson hauled in a key 20-yard catch in Arizona’s final drive that led to the winning field goal.
The Cardinals (8-2) have now won four straight.
(Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles- Editing by Peter Rutherford)
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