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WATCH: Cardinals Make Historic Return TD

DeeJay Dallas took one back to the house for the Arizona Cardinals in Week 1.
Donnie Druin|
Aug 10, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals running back DeeJay Dallas (20) celebrates against the New Orleans Saints during a preseason NFL game at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Aug 10, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals running back DeeJay Dallas (20) celebrates against the New Orleans Saints during a preseason NFL game at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

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Arizona Cardinals

Arizona Cardinals RB DeeJay Dallas made history in Week 1 against the Buffalo Bills, returning the league's first dynamic kickoff for a touchdown.

With the Cardinals trailing by double digits in the fourth quarter, Dallas fielded the kickoff, wiggled a bit and turned on the jets for the 96-yard scamper.

This is the first year the NFL has implemented the new kickoff rules, which requires all players but the return men to be still until the ball is fielded.

“I didn’t have a lot of expectations. This thing is totally different from anything we’ve ever coached,” Cardinals special teams coach Jeff Rodgers said previously this summer.

“There’s still blocking and tackling going on, but the space and the angles you’re trying to get those things done are vastly different than they were before. You start with what’s created in your mind, what’s your initial thought.”

It's a totally different ball game with the new return style, which turns the kickoff into more of a rushing play than traditional returns before.

As we saw, just one block can open a running lane - and a talented back such as Dallas can do damage in that aspect.

Dallas first came to the league as a fourth-round pick in 2020 and has played with the Seattle Seahawks his entire career previously. He was signed as a free agent this offseason by Arizona.

Dallas only played 9% of offensive snaps for Seattle in 2023 but did play 62% of special teams plays for the Seahawks.

He's never played less than 44% of special teams snaps since entering the league.

It looks like that'll continue in the desert.

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Donnie Druin
DONNIE DRUIN

Donnie Druin is the Publisher for Arizona Cardinals and Phoenix Suns On SI. Donnie moved to Arizona in 2012 and has been with the company since 2018. In college he won "Best Sports Column" in the state of Arizona for his section and has previously provided coverage for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona State Sun Devils. Follow Donnie on Twitter @DonnieDruin for more news, updates, analysis and more!

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