The score was still 0-0 between the Arizona Cardinals and Washington Commanders before our first big play of the day.
On Washington's second drive, quarterback Sam Howell scrambled out to the left side on a play-action boot and was forced to tuck-and-run after none of his receivers were open.
Cardinals linebacker Kyzir White quickly closed in on him and brought the hammer, quickly planting Howell to the ground and causing every flag possible to be thrown after Howell was clearly out of bounds before White arrived. A scrum between the two teams ensued.
White received a 15-yard penalty for the hit.
The Cardinals would see two other big penalties lead to the first score of a day, a nine-yard touchdown pass from Howell to Brian Robinson.
White was named one of six captains for the Cardinals this season alongside Kyler Murray, James Conner, D.J. Humphries, Dennis Gardeck and Budda Baker.
White signed on as a free agent this past offseason after previously playing under head coach Jonathan Gannon and defensive coordinator Nick Rallis with the Philadelphia Eagles.
White - starting as a middle linebacker alongside Josh Woods - is wearing the green dot and communicating the defensive play-calls to his teammates. He had 110 tackles for the Eagles last season and Arizona hopes to see similar numbers.
The down judge had to be escorted out of the game after White made contact with him after the hit.
Howell shortly was in the medical tent but came back out to an ovation from the home crowd.
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