Cardinals C Mason Cole leaves game vs. 49ers with hamstring injury

Arizona Cardinals center Mason Cole suffered a hamstring injury in the third quarter of the season opening, 24-20 win against the San Francisco 49ers.

In the first drive of the second half, Cole limped off the field and toward the medical tent.

He was announced as questionable to return with about nine minutes left in the third quarter.

Lamont Gaillard entered the game at center.

Cole, a third-round pick in the 2018 draft, appeared in all 32 games over his first two seasons and started 18 of them. He started his entire rookie season but last year was a backup center and guard.

Cole earned the starting job this season when the Cardinals didn’t bring back veteran A.Q. Shipley, who started at center all of 2019.

Gaillard was selected by the Cardinals in the sixth round of the 2019 draft.

Cole’s injury was the second to a Cardinals starter in the game. In the first quarter, safety Jalen Thompson hurt his ankle and was questionable to return.

At the time of Cole’s injury, the Cardinals trailed 13-10.

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