ARIZONA CARDINALS

Beanie Wells injured, could have been worse

Oct 24, 2011, 5:40 PM | Updated: 8:00 pm

The Cardinals needed Beanie Wells to step up this season,
and the third-year pro has responded by averaging 4.6
yards per carry and scoring six times.

The Ohio State product has looked every bit the feature
back — when he’s been on the field.

Wells, who missed the team’s Week 3 game in Seattle, left
Sunday’s contest with the Steelers in the second quarter
with a knee injury. He didn’t return, finishing the
afternoon with 42 yards on 12 carries.

“Good news on Beanie,” head coach Ken Whisenhunt said
Monday, “from the standpoint of his injury looks like it’s
not a surgical option.

“His knee is stable.”

Whisenhunt said Wells took a shot during the game which
caused the running back’s knee to lock up, which combined
with swelling prevented the player’s return.

“We’ll monitor him this week and see where he is as far as
rehab and see where he progresses.”

Unfortunately for the Cardinals, the process of preparing
for the next game with uncertainty surrounding Wells’
status is nothing new, though the offense is certainly
less effective when he’s unavailable.

Even still, Whisenhunt isn’t ready to give up on the
running game just because Wells isn’t playing.

“I’m comfortable with the guys that we’ve got,” the coach
said. “I think Alfonso [Smith] has shown that he can do
some good things for us. Obviously having LaRod [Stephens-
Howling] back 100 percent helps, and then Chester [Taylor]
is a lot more comfortable with where we are offensively
right now.”

Whisenhunt said the team would take a “back by committee”
approach for as long as Wells is out, though no one is
quite sure how long that will be.

“I’m not going to say I’m not, I’m not going to say I am,
but I’m hopeful,” Wells said about playing this week.

Whisenhunt said he will not put a time-frame on Wells’
return.

“I don’t want to set the young man up for failure,”
Whisenhunt said. “If he gets out there Wednesday and it’s
a struggle we’ll see how it progresses.

“Once again I think it’s good because at one point
yesterday we thought he might be done for the year.”

Arizona Sports’ Kyndra de St. Aubin contributed to this
report

Presented By
Western Governors University

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.
comments powered by Disqus

Arizona Cardinals

Desmond Ridder runs the rock against Houston...

Tyler Drake

Desmond Ridder eager to remind fellow Cardinals QB Clayton Tune about college wins

Cardinals quarterback Desmond Ridder may not know Kyler Murray just yet, but he and Clayton Tune go way back.

17 hours ago

LSU's Malik Nabers, a top NFL Draft prospect...

Kevin Zimmerman

NFL Draft: Malik Nabers to visit Arizona Cardinals after LSU pro day, per report

Top NFL Draft receiver prospect Malik Nabers will reportedly visit with the Arizona Cardinals after the LSU Tigers' pro day.

20 hours ago

Desmond Ridder looks to pass...

Tyler Drake

QB1 or not, Desmond Ridder keeping starter mentality with Cardinals

New Cardinals QB Desmond Ridder is focused on using the good and the bad from his first two seasons rather than listening to outside chatter.

2 days ago

Jonathan Gannon and Kyler Murray look on...

Tyler Drake

Cardinals’ Jonathan Gannon: Kyler Murray’s ‘best football is ahead of him’

Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon believes Kyler Murray will continue taking the necessary steps forward with a full offseason of work.

2 days ago

Kyler Murray chats with Jonathan Gannon...

Arizona Sports

Arizona Cardinals will face ‘really good’ AFC opponent for joint preseason practices

The Arizona Cardinals expect to hold joint practices in the preseason against a really good AFC opponent, in the words of Jonathan Gannon.

2 days ago

Patriots and Cardinals kick off return in 2020...

Associated Press

NFL owners approve new kickoff rules for 2024

NFL kickoff rules will take on a hybrid approach similar to the XFL. League owners approved the new measures Tuesday.

2 days ago

Beanie Wells injured, could have been worse