Arizona Cardinals: Injuries at Outside Linebacker
By Cyle Gill
Aug 17, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals cornerback Jerraud Powers (25) defensive end Calais Campbell (93) and outside linebacker Lorenzo Alexander (97) huddle up during warm-ups against the Dallas Cowboys at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
The Arizona Cardinals have injuries to key players at the outside linebacker position. These players are considered as a big hit to the team and they are Lorenzo Alexander, Sam Acho, and Alex Okafor. Vic So`oto received a concussion in Sunday`s game against the Buccaneers but we should be back this week against the Panthers. Dan Giordano is on the reserve/PUP list and will be able to return to action sometime this season.
I feel that Alexander and Acho are the biggest hit for the time being, but Okafor is the biggest lost because he`s being set back a year. With Okafor out for the season, he`s going to still be considered a rookie in my mind next season. He is a force on the field and I believe he will come back just fine, but having 16 games under is belt would have been a big help for next year.
Still on the field for the Cardinals are Matt Shaughnessy and John Abraham. There is also Dontay Moch who took over for So`oto after he left the game against the Buccs. Moch did a good job on Sunday and he was the one who sacked Mike Glennon at the one yard line in the fourth quarter. He`s been praised in practice for being able to get passed the line and get to the QB. If you believe in the football gods, then he just might be the reason Alexander, Acho, and Okafor all had their seasons ended.
With D-Wash being back on the field, Todd Bowles could experiment with seeing how Jasper Brinkley, Kevin Minter, or Kenny Demens do playing at either outside position and maybe even use one of them there. Bruce Arians could also bring Zach Nash or Kenny Rowe in from the practice squad, but for the time being, I don`t believe there is a need to start making those moves beside maybe experimenting with the backup middle linebackers to see how things go.