More hits to Cardinals decimated O-line
The Arizona Cardinals are now without all five of their starting offensive linemen that they had planned to start the season after left tackle D.J. Humphries on Wednesday became the latest casualty up front to land on injured reserve.
Humphries has been dealing with a bothersome right knee for the past month after missing most of last season with a left knee injury. On Monday, head coach Steve Wilks said he was hopeful Humphries would be able to play this Sunday against the visiting Lions.
“I think you always have to be hopeful in hoping that he can come back and really finish the year off,” Wilks said. “Talking to (trainer) Tom (Reed), talking to the doctors, they thought it was the best thing for him just to be able to shut it down, so he doesn’t have major surgery and have a setback for next year.”
Asked if Humphries will require surgery, Wilks said, “Right now, we’re just waiting to see. So, I’ll let you guys know as soon as I hear.”
Humphries becomes the sixth offensive lineman that the Cardinals have lost to injured reserve. The other five were center A.Q. Shipley (knee), left guard Mike Iuapti (knee), right guard Justin Pugh (knee), backup guard Jeremy Vujnovich (hamstring) and reserve tackle John Wetzel (neck).
Rookie center Mason Cole has started all 12 games this season after Shipley was injured early in training camp. He’s the only one left that saw any action since Week 1. Arizona’s new line consists of three rookies in Cole, left tackle Korey Cunningham and left guard Colby Gossett. The new right tackle is second-year pro Will Holden, who signed with the team last Thursday.
“I think it’s really just a matter of trying to find some consistency and staying the course,” said Oday Aboushi, a six-year veteran who has replaced Pugh at right guard. “I know a lot of the guys are first-year guys in there and we’re still gelling, but as the group goes, we’re just going to try to continue to get better and continue to work on things we’ve been working on.
“I think we’ve shown a lot of good things and what we’re capable of doing on film and it’s a matter of just doing that.”
The Cardinals ran for a season-high 182 yards during this past Sunday’s 20-17 victory over the Packers at Lambeau Field. It was Arizona’s first road win in Wisconsin since 1949.
“I’d like to say I contributed to that,” rookie quarterback Josh Rosen said, alluding to his 33-yard scramble. “They’ve been battling their butts off up front. It has not been a distinctive change with the amount of time I’ve had in the pocket. They’re playing really hard and playing pretty well.”
Playing behind such a young and inexperienced line, Rosen’s health could be in jeopardy during the final four weeks of the season.
SERIES HISTORY: 66th regular-season meeting. Lions lead series, 32-28-5. The series dates back to 1930. The Cardinals have won seven of the past eight meetings and 12 of the past 16 overall. The Cardinals enter this week having won eight in a row at home against Detroit, which hasn’t won in Arizona since 1993. This will be the Lions’ fourth visit to State Farm Stadium in seven years.
