Josh Mauro impresses in Arizona Cardinals’ loss to Seahawks

Nov 24, 2014, 11:23 PM | Updated: 11:23 pm

TEMPE, Ariz. — On Nov. 13, the Arizona Cardinals signed Josh Mauro off of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ practice squad and placed him on their 53-man roster.

On Nov. 23, he was starting at defensive tackle in a key road game against the Seattle Seahawks.

The undrafted rookie out of Stanford was on the field for 22 snaps, finishing with two total tackles, one of which was for a loss.

“Josh Mauro would have got a game ball if we won the game,” Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said Monday. “He played his tail off. Was stout at the point of attack. Really, really nice surprise.”

Mauro, who had a solid-if-unspectacular collegiate career at Stanford, said he had no idea he was going to start the game. Instead, he knew he would have a specific role in certain packages, and the team happened to come out in one of them to begin the game.

He felt good about his overall performance, which was his first in the NFL. Mauro said he had to balance his emotions, but was focused on doing his job at a high level.

“Guys like Calais (Campbell) and Tommy (Kelly) and Dan (Williams), they set the bar really high up front,” he said. “So coming in, there can’t be a let off; there’s no time for a learning curve or getting comfortable, so I just wanted to come in and just play up to their level, which is the highest level in the NFL right now.”

What kind of role Mauro will have going forward is uncertain, though his performance Sunday likely did nothing to make anyone think it should be reduced.

And Mauro, who originally chose the Steelers over the Cardinals after going undrafted, is happy to finally land in Arizona.

“I’ll tell you all what I told them,” he said. “You get advice from people, and it goes one of two ways, so now you all know. Again, I’m just so happy to be here and just blessed.

“I just want to make the most of every opportunity.”

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson passes during warmups before an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) The Seattle Seahawks "Legion of Boom" defensive players including strong safety DeShawn Shead (35) huddle before taking the field for warmups before an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch stands on the field during warmups before an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton (5) passes during warmups before an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear) Nate Hatch, second from right, a student who was injured in an October 2014 shooting at Marysville-Pilchuck high school in Marysville, Wash., stands with his mother Denise Hatch, left, and friends Eimily Oaks, second from left, and Kakota Hayes, right, during pre-game activities before an NFL football game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Nate Hatch, a student who was injured in an October 2014 shooting at Marysville-Pilchuck high school in Marysville, Wash., stands with "Blitz" the Seattle Seahawks mascot during pre-game activities before an NFL football game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald walks out of the tunnel before an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. Fitzgerald did not play due to an injury. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton looks to pass in the first half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton, left, tries to escape a tackle by Seattle Seahawks defensive end Cliff Avril as Cardinals' Jared Veldheer, right, blocks in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) runs as Arizona Cardinals middle linebacker Larry Foote, right, tries to tackle him in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear) Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson looks to pass in the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton (5) passes as Cardinals' Lyle Sendlein, right, blocks Seattle Seahawks Bobby Wagner (54) in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Arizona Cardinals kicker Chandler Catanzaro (7) reacts after missing a field goal as he stands in front to holder Drew Butler and near Seattle Seahawks outside linebacker Malcolm Smith (53) who walks off the field in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear) Seattle Seahawks Marshawn Lynch (24) tries to step way from a Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Alex Okafor, lower right, as Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, second from left, looks on in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton (5) is sacked by Seattle Seahawks' Jordan Hill, left, in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Seattle Seahawks cornerback Byron Maxwell, left, runs the ball after making an interception as Arizona Cardinals running back Andre Ellington, right, attempts a tackle in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) is sacked in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Seattle Seahawks defensive end Cliff Avril reacts after he sacked Arizona Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Seattle Seahawks defensive end Cliff Avril, left, sacks Arizona Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton (5) in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, left, makes a long run against the Arizona Cardinals in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle, but the play was called back due to a holding penalty against the Seahawks. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear) Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson makes a long run to out of bounds near the end zone that was called back on a holding penalty in the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson makes a long run to near the end zone against the Arizona Cardinals in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle, but the play was called back due to a holding penalty against the Seahawks.(AP Photo/Stephen Brashear) Arizona Cardinals kicker Chandler Catanzaro kicks a field goal as punter Drew Butler (2) holds against the Seattle Seahawks in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear) Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll motions to his team against the Arizona Cardinals in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton (5) passes against the Seattle Seahawks in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Jaron Brown, left, reacts after Seattle Seahawks cornerback Byron Maxwell (41) broke up a pass intended for him in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear) Seattle Seahawks kicker Steven Hauschka (4) boots a field goal in the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) scrambles for yardage as he is pursued by Arizona Cardinals strong safety Deone Bucannon (36) in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton (5) is sacked by Seattle Seahawks outside linebacker Bruce Irvin, top, and free safety Earl Thomas, right, in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear) Seattle Seahawks tight end Cooper Helfet dives for a touchdown in the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Seattle Seahawks tight end Cooper Helfet (84) runs ahead of a leaping Arizona Cardinals inside linebacker Kevin Minter (51) to score a touchdown in the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Injured Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald looks at the scoreboard as he sits on the bench in the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle.The Seahawks won 19-3. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear) Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) greets Arizona Cardinals players after an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. The Seahawks won 19-3. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, left, smiles on the sideline late in the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. The Seahawks beat the Cardinals 19-3. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) smiles after an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. The Seahawks won 19-3. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians looks at his play card in the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. The Seahawks beat the Cardinals 19-3. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear) Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) holds hands with Arizona Cardinals' Calais Campbell, left, and Antonio Cromartie (31) in a prayer circle following an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. The Seahawks won 19-3. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton walks off the field after the Seattle Seahawks beat the Cardinals 19-3 in an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton (5) is checked on by referee Gene Steratore after being knocked down late in the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. The Seahawks won 19-3. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians gestures late in the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. The Seahawks won 19-3. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear) Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) slides after carrying the ball to a first down as Arizona Cardinals' Rashad Johnson moves in in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. The Seahawks won 19-3. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Seattle Seahawks' Marshawn Lynch (24) joins-in as Seahawks' Sea Gals cheerleaders dance on the field during a break late in the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. The Seahawks won 19-3. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Arizona Cardinals linebacker Marcus Benard (59) and Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Ricardo Lockette talk after an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. The Seahawks won 19-3. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear) Seattle Seahawks' Marshawn Lynch (24) turns away after joining Seahawks' Sea Gals cheerleaders as they danced on the field during a break late in the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. The Seahawks won 19-3. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

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