Arizona Cardinals excited for TE Rob Housler’s return

Though the Arizona Cardinals offense has already shown improvement over last year, they’re excited to add back tight end Rob Housler, who they feel will help take them to the next level.

Housler was penciled in as the starter at TE before he suffered a high ankle sprain in the team’s third preseason game. He had an impressive camp leading up to the injury and the Cardinals had high expectations for him this season.

“It’s huge,” said head coach Bruce Arians. “Having such a good spring and fall camp, and then to lose him for that amount of time was tough. He’s another added dimension that we need.”

Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald said Housler creates problems for the opposing defense and that the whole offense will benefit from his presence.

“Rob is one of the fastest tight ends in the game and he creates tremendous matchup issues up the seams,” Fitzgerald added. “Having that added dimension is only going to make us stronger. I’m really happy to have him back.”

Housler, who’s in his third year out of Florida Atlantic University, led Cardinals’ tight ends in receptions in 2012 with 45 that resulted in 417 yards. At 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds, he ran the 40-yard-dash in 4.46 seconds at the 2011 NFL Combine.

Another person that is excited for Housler’s return is offensive coordinator Harold Goodwin, who now gets to use the tight end’s speed and size in the team’s game plan.

“Obviously he’s going to be a huge plus for us having him out there,” Goodwin said. “They’ve got to match up against him. He’s a tight end with speed, wide receiver type speed, so defensively they’re going to have to do something. If they don’t, he’s going to have a huge day.”

The Saints have defended well against tight ends so far this season, allowing just four receptions for 70 yards, so it appears Housler may have his work cut out for him.

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