The Arizona Cardinals’ trip to Lucas Oil Stadium on October 12, 2025, was supposed to be another hard-fought NFL contest—a chance to get back to .500 and keep pace in the NFC. Instead, it turned into a bruising, high-scoring battle with the Indianapolis Colts that left the Cardinals battered, both on the scoreboard and the injury report. The Colts, powered by a late-game surge and a dominant ground attack, pulled out a 31-27 victory to improve to 5-1 on the season, while the Cardinals slipped to 2-3 and are now left to pick up the pieces after a cascade of injuries to key players.
From the opening whistle, the game had the makings of a shootout, but it also quickly became clear that both teams would have to adapt on the fly. The Colts were already dealing with their own pregame setbacks—quarterback Anthony Richardson suffered an eye injury during warmups, and cornerback Charvarius Ward was ruled out with a concussion. That meant Daniel Jones would get the start under center, and he wasted little time getting the Colts on the board, orchestrating a nine-play, 65-yard opening drive capped by an eight-yard touchdown pass to tight end Tyler Warren.
The Cardinals’ response was swift, but not without drama. On the ensuing kickoff, tight end Travis Vokolek—already expected to step up with Tip Reiman out for the season—went down making a block and had to be carted off the field with a neck injury. Trainers removed his facemask as a precaution, and he was quickly taken to a local hospital. The Cardinals later confirmed that Vokolek was alert, had movement in his extremities, and was released from the hospital to rejoin the team after the game. Still, his absence left the Cardinals thin at tight end, with only Trey McBride and Elijah Higgins remaining as healthy options. Offensive linemen Kelvin Beachum and Jon Gaines II were pressed into service to help fill the gaps.
Despite the early adversity, Arizona managed to even the score before the end of the first quarter. Running back Bam Knight capped a 10-play, 55-yard drive with a one-yard plunge, thanks in part to a key 26-yard connection between quarterback Jacoby Brissett and McBride. But the injury bug wasn’t done with the Cardinals yet. Wide receiver Michael Wilson suffered a finger injury late in the first quarter after a five-yard catch near the goal line. He was seen heading to the locker room with a towel over his hand but returned to finish the game, tallying four receptions for 44 yards.
As the second quarter unfolded, the Colts regained the lead on a three-yard scramble by Daniel Jones, and the Cardinals’ woes mounted. Star rookie receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. exited in the second quarter after sustaining a concussion. He finished with two catches for 32 yards before being ruled out for the remainder of the contest. Running back Emari Demercado also left the game with an ankle injury after just one carry for one yard and did not return. The injuries forced the Cardinals to dig deep into their depth chart, and by halftime, the Colts held a narrow 14-10 advantage.
Jacoby Brissett, starting in place of the injured Kyler Murray, proved to be a steady hand for Arizona. He completed 27 of 44 passes for 320 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception, spreading the ball around to a depleted receiving corps. According to the live game updates, "Brissett was 6-for-6 for 55 yards on the drive" that led to a third-quarter touchdown, a testament to his poise under pressure. Trey McBride, thrust into an even larger role with Vokolek sidelined, delivered a standout performance, hauling in eight catches for 72 yards and a touchdown.
With Harrison Jr. out, Zay Jones stepped up as Brissett’s go-to target, finishing with five catches for 79 yards. The Cardinals’ offense, despite being shorthanded, managed to outgain the Colts 400 to 355 yards on the day. Yet, costly penalties—seven for 65 yards—proved to be a thorn in their side, stalling key drives and hampering momentum.
The second half turned into a back-and-forth affair, with neither defense able to consistently make stops. The Cardinals briefly seized the lead in the third quarter after McBride’s touchdown grab and a subsequent 12-yard scoring strike to Greg Dortch, who capitalized on a 30-yard kickoff return to ignite the drive. But the Colts answered every Arizona punch with one of their own. Daniel Jones, efficient and composed, finished 22-for-30 for 212 yards and two touchdowns, while Jonathan Taylor shouldered the load on the ground, racking up 123 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries.
As the fourth quarter ticked away, the tension mounted. The Cardinals clung to a 27-24 lead after Chad Ryland’s 44-yard field goal, but the Colts mounted a decisive 66-yard, nine-play drive that chewed up nearly five minutes of clock. Taylor barreled in from a yard out for the go-ahead score with just over four minutes left. Arizona’s final possession ended with a turnover on downs deep in Colts territory, sealing the win for Indianapolis.
There were moments of hope for Cardinals fans—a 24-yard pass to Elijah Higgins on second-and-16, the emergence of Zay Jones as a reliable target, and Brissett’s resilience in the face of adversity. But the mounting injuries and late-game miscues ultimately proved too much to overcome. The Cardinals, who were flagged for a false start on their first offensive play and struggled with discipline throughout, now face a critical juncture as they prepare to host the Green Bay Packers on October 19.
For the Colts, the win showcased their depth and adaptability. Despite losing key contributors before the game even started, they found a way to outlast a determined but depleted Cardinals squad. Tyler Warren emerged as a favorite target for Daniel Jones, finishing with six catches for 63 yards and a touchdown, while Alec Pierce’s 26-yard grab set up a crucial score in the fourth quarter.
As for the Cardinals, the focus now shifts to recovery and regrouping. With Vokolek’s status uncertain and several playmakers nursing injuries, head coach Jonathan Gannon and his staff will have to get creative to keep the offense humming. The silver lining? The team showed grit and depth, with unsung heroes like McBride, Jones, and Higgins stepping up when called upon.
The NFL season is a marathon, not a sprint, and the Cardinals have learned that the hard way. With the Packers looming on the horizon, Arizona’s next challenge will be to heal up, tighten the screws on discipline, and hope for a little luck on the injury front. The road ahead isn’t getting any easier, but if Sunday’s effort proved anything, it’s that this team won’t go down without a fight.