Cardinals dealing with plenty of injuries
Nov 2, 2011, 9:25 PM | Updated: 11:39 pm
Getting dinged up over the course of a grueling season is just something that comes with being an NFL player.
The Arizona Cardinals are preparing to play the St. Louis Rams Sunday, but could take the field without their starting quarterback, running back and tight end.
Kevin Kolb is fighting a turf toe injury, Beanie Wells is dealing with a knee injury and Todd Heap is still trying to nurse his hamstring back to 100 percent.
Kolb was hurt in Sunday’s loss to the Ravens, when the QB was sacked six times, and head coach Ken Whisenhunt says his starter has made good progression since suffering the injury.
“He’s come a long way in two days,” Whisenhunt said. “That thing was swollen and black and blue, he really took a shot on it during the game so it’s good to see him making that kind of progress.”
Kolb playing will depend on his ability to move on the foot, according to Whisenhunt.
However, if the QB can’t go, Whisenhunt is comfortable with backups John Skelton and Richard Bartel. Whisenhunt said Skelton would be the one to get the start.
From quarterback to tailback, Wells continues to rehab a knee injury he suffered against the Steelers. The ball carrier did play against the Ravens and Whisenhunt knows Wells will have to continuously work to keep playing.
“I think he’s going to be in this cycle where works his knee back into shape for the game every week,” Whisenhunt said. “He’s going to have soreness and he’s going to be limited early in the week and he’ll get more later in the week and that’s probably going to be the routine for the next couple of weeks.”
As for Heap, the tight end continues to be limited in practice thanks to a hamstring injury suffered in the loss to the Giants. Whisenhunt hopes Heap will be available Sunday.
“Hopefully we’ll get Todd back even if it’s in a limited role,” Whisenhunt said. “But we’ll know more about that later in the week, he did more today in practice that he’s done and hopefully that will progress.”
If Heap can’t go the Cardinals may be short on tight ends, since both Rob Housler and Jim Dray were named in this week’s injury report.
