Cardinals OL Earl Watford prepares to potentially replace Evan Mathis

TEMPE, Ariz. – Looks like it may be time for the Arizona Cardinals to use their Swiss Army knife and open up the blade marked guard — more specifically, right guard.

That’s the position starter Evan Mathis plays, yet he did not practice on Wednesday and was limited on Thursday because of a left foot injury suffered in the second quarter against New England.

If Mathis is unable to go this week—head coach Bruce Arians called Mathis day-to-day—then Earl Watford would slide into that spot.

Watford played 32 of the 61 offensive snaps in place on Mathis in Week 1.

“I was prepared, but I wasn’t technically (sound) as I wanted to be,” Watford said. “I gave up some hits, and I had that holding (penalty) late in the game at a critical time, which I know better than that. I got to be better than that, so this week it will be on point.”

Arians labeled Watford’s play as “average”, pointing as Watford did to the holding call that turned a 2nd-and-9 into a 2nd-and-19 at the New England 43, which seemed to stall much of the Cardinals’ momentum on the final drive, one that subsequently ended with a missed field goal.

“He was solid at times. Pretty good in the running game,” Arians continued.

On the depth chart, Watford is listed as the backup at both left tackle and left guard. However, he spelled Mathis several times in training camp, and he has shown the ability to play all five positions along the offensive line.

“Earl has got to be prepared for whatever I tell him. He’s gotten quality reps, and I trust him if he goes in the game. I think last week he was a little bit shaky just because he was focusing more on tackle, but whatever it is, he should be able to handle it because he’s gotten practice at it,” said offensive coordinator Harold Goodwin, who dubbed Watford the “Swiss Army knife.”

Watford, who was drafted as a guard out of college, showed his versatility last season. Twice he started games at right tackle, the first starts of his career, and played several snaps at both left and right guard.

Watford’s appearances at right tackle were necessitated by the two-week, season-opening suspension to Bobby Massie.

“Whenever it’s time for me to be called in, I got to be prepared,” Watford said. “I got to be ready regardless of where it was or where it is.”

Of course, it’s always easier when you know you’re going to play, Watford acknowledged.

Having a full week to prepare, especially mentally, will help, he added. Again, that is if his number is indeed called against Tampa Bay.

“Well, he’s got a big chore, especially if he’s on (defensive lineman Gerald) McCoy,” Arians said. “Just continue to play. He’s been playing at a pretty good level, so just do your job.”

And that’s all Watford is focused on.

“It’s a great opportunity to get out there and help my team. That’s all I can do, not worry about anything else outside of playing on Sunday,” he said. “Every day you’re trying to prove yourself—I mean, for me, I try to prove myself to my other teammates that I can do all these things, but when it counts, can they count on me? That’s kind of how I want to work towards it.”

There’s another layer to this story, by the way.

Watford is in a contract year. This is his fourth season, and as valuable as he is to the Cardinals, might there be a team out there next offseason that may give him a chance to start, if it’s not here in Arizona.

Certainly, Watford would only help himself with positive play, if and when he sees the field.

“I try not to think of that,” he said. “We got one focus this week and that’s to get a ‘W’. With where we’re trying to get to, everyone knows that, but we just got to take it day-by-day, week-by-week and do the best I can to put myself in the best situation and see where it takes me.”

Follow Craig Grialou on Twitter

Follow @CraigAZSports