Kevin Kolb frustrated with slow process

It’s been just over three weeks since Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kevin Kolb’s sternum and ribs were crushed by the Bills’ defense, and he’s getting antsy sitting on the sidelines. Kolb is on the practice field each day but not participating like he wants to be.

“I continue to try and push it every day and it’s frustrating because it’s a patient game, it’s a waiting game,” Kolb said Tuesday. “Like anybody, you want to get out there as quick as possible, especially after sitting out this long. Not a whole lot I can do really, so it’s frustrating as a player when it’s out of your hands.”

Kolb has talked before about the process he goes through each week with the doctors. They re-visit the MRI, work with a chiropractor and massage therapist and now he’s finally able to do some football activities.

“I’m making some throws. I’m throwing it up to about 20 yards; I try to just keep my arm loose every day. Running has gotten a lot better but if I ever try to tork or turn, it’s just not there,” he said. “I’m starting to try and get back in the weight room a little bit so that there’s not quite as steep a hill to climb when I get back.”

Kolb feels that the progress and the process has been slow but considering where he came from, it seems like a major improvement. The first five to seven days after the injury Kolb couldn’t sit up, lie down, talk or hardly breathe without pain.

He says the pain is more tolerable now but throwing the football isn’t necessarily about that.

“I don’t know if it’s the threshold of pain, I think it’s just that you create bad habits almost trying to compensate and I just can’t do that, it’s not worth it at this point. So that’s the focus right now, is okay, what’s enough to where you’re getting work but you’re also not creating bad habits and that’s a fine line.”

Kolb also reiterated that there is no specific timeline for his return right now and that adds to the frustration. When asked how they will physically test his sternum and ribs to see if he’s ready to go, he had no problem making light of the situation.

“We talked about it, we’ll do a dog pile and see what happens, see how it turns out. Really, it’s a compression type of deal so it’s not just taking a shot to the ribs with the pads,” said Kolb. “I think it’s one of those deals when they say, ‘ok the MRI shows you’re at this percentage, whatever we say is safe to go out there and play’ and you wing it and go out and play. You just hope that one fall doesn’t happen, I guess.”

Kolb will have to think long and hard before returning from this injury. The Cardinals have allowed 41 sacks this season, ranking dead last in the league in that category. The next closest team is the Green Bay Packers with 29 sacks allowed.

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