Report: Cardinals’ Boone expectedly out 3-4 weeks with pec strain

Arizona Cardinals offensive lineman Alex Boone is expected to miss 3-4 weeks after suffering a partially strained pectoral injury that forced him out of the team’s Monday loss to the Dallas Cowboys, reports 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station’s Mike Jurecki.

Additionally, MRI’s taken Tuesday were negative for starting left tackle John Wetzel. He is considered day-to-day with a pectoral injury, reports Jurecki.

Boone, who the team signed Sept. 5,  was thrust into the starting left guard spot in place of starter Mike Iupati, who missed Week 2 and 3 with a triceps injury.

Wetzel took over at left tackle in the season-opener after starter D.J. Humphries went down with an MCL sprain.

The Cardinals’ offensive line struggled Monday against Dallas, allowing six sacks and 11 quarterback hits to Carson Palmer, but Wetzel and Boone weren’t the main culprits.

“Mostly the right side again. Boone played really, really well,” Arizona coach Bruce Arians said Tuesday. “A.Q. (Shipley) gave up a sack, but he played pretty solid other than that sack. (Right guard Evan) Boehm is still learning. They give up a sack because he pushes (right tackle Jared) Veldheer off his block and then doesn’t block the guy. So, it’s just learning on the run with him.

“But, it was mostly the right side. I think Wetzel held his own. He gave up some hits, but overall, he played pretty solid.”

The good news, if there is any: Cardinals GM Steve Keim is hopeful Humphries and Iupati could be ready to return in the near future.

“I’d like to think that D.J. Humphries will return this week, there’s a good chance Mike Iupati will return this week. So there’s two offensive line starters,” Keim said Tuesday on the Doug & Wolf show on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station.

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