Pay No Mind: Confident Andy Isabella Breaks Out Against Lions

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Mind games played tricks on Andy Isabella as a rookie. The athletic ability was there, but the confidence was not.


On Sunday, the speedy second-year receiver believed he would be a difference-maker, and then went out and did it.


Isabella had his finest game as a professional against the Lions, catching four passes for 47 yards and a pair of touchdowns in place of the injured Christian Kirk.


"My mind was one of the biggest things holding me back (last season)," Isabella said after the 26-23 loss. "I let a lot of people get in my mind. I worked so hard for this. There's no reason why I shouldn't go out there with an edge. I can play out there."


Isabella was a consistent presence throughout, catching a pair of passes early, including a beautiful 13-yard fade from Kyler Murray for the Cardinals' first touchdown. He scored another from four yards out late in the third to give the team a 23-20 lead.


Isabella now has six catches for 114 yards and two touchdowns in the past two games, the best numbers among any receiver on the team beyond DeAndre Hopkins.


"I told y'all what he's capable of," Murray said. "Glad to see him get his opportunity today."


Hopkins had his typical dominant day for the Cardinals, catching 10 passes for 137 yards. But the postgame focus was on the future Hall of Fame receiver that did not light up the stat sheet.


Larry Fitzgerald was targeted only three times and finished with one catch for zero yards. Coach Kliff Kingsbury was visibly miffed with himself for allowing that to happen.


"He's the heart and soul of this team," Kingsbury said. "When he's getting the football, good things happen. That's completely on me."


Fitzgerald is 37 years old, by far the oldest receiver in the NFL, but Kingsbury said his lack of involvement had nothing to do with a declining skillset.


"He had one of the best camps of anybody on the team," Kingsbury said. "He played great in the first two games, was getting open. I just did a poor job of getting him the ball."


Murray said he wasn't sure why Fitzgerald was targeted less than Hopkins, Isabella and KeeSean Johnson.


"Just kind of flow of the game type of deal," Murray said. "I hope to get him more balls next week."

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