Arizona Cardinals: It’s next man up
By Scott Allen
The Arizona Cardinals are now once again in next man up mode with mounting injuries
Jared Veldheer, done. Ifeanyi Momah, done. Jaron Brown, done. Chris Johnson, done. Tyvon Branch, done. Evan Mathis, done. Troy Niklas, done. Alani Fua, done. Mike Jenkins, done. The Arizona Cardinals injured reserve list is long and is being added to weekly.
No one else outside of Arizona is going to cry about it though. Even the Cardinals know there is no time to sulk. Once again, it’s next man up time.
With the Cardinals on the bye this week, they have been fairly quiet in their moves. They did add safety Christian Bryant to the 53-man roster this week. Same for guard Taylor Boggs.
The one injury the Cardinals have gotten away with this season is the most important one, quarterback Carson Palmer. He received a concussion against the Los Angeles Rams and missed a game four days later in San Francisco.
Last Sunday he played about as good as he could. He had just 11 incompletions, going 35-46 and throwing three beautiful touchdown passes. His receivers didn’t let him down this week. Then again, Michael Floyd barely played.
Now though it is time for next man up at several positions. For now, you’re probably looking at John Wetzel at left tackle to start in place of Veldheer. He played decent in Veldheer’s absence the other day. That much can’t be said for the rest of the offensive line however.
With Momah gone, the Cardinals are down to three tight ends. They haven’t added another one yet but if Darren Fells and Jermaine Gresham can stay healthy, they may not need another given the lack of use they have for the tight end this season.
The loss of Mathis showed last Sunday. Guard Mike Iupati didn’t play well in Carolina. He could still be feeling the effects of his injury a few weeks ago, pressed into service more often.
The fact is the Cardinals are going to try to do whatever they can to get replacements. Good ones are few and far between. They have been able to find gems late in the season over the past couple of years.
Running back Kerwynn Williams saved a downward spiraling running game in 2014. Red Bryant came in off the couch at Thanksgiving time to save the Cardinals defensive line issues. It’s next man up time.