More help coming to already impressive Cardinals offensive line

by Paola Boivin

By MARIO KALO
Cronkite News

TEMPE — The makeshift offensive line was a glaring question mark after the Arizona Cardinals’ first preseason game, when quarterback Carson Palmer was sacked twice and the team allowed six sacks overall.

Now, after the Cardinals have not allowed a sack through two regular season games, the questions are disappearing.

And the offensive line looks to be getting even stronger soon. Tackle Bobby Massie is eligible to play this week after serving a two-game suspension for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy and three-time Pro Bowler and guard Mike Iupati is inching closer to returning from a meniscus injury that has sidelined him.

Earl Watford, the incumbent at right tackle, has played well in run blocking through two games, but with Massie’s return and Iupati’s pending recovery comes an important decision for the entire Cardinals coaching staff: Who starts on the offensive line?

“We’re going to talk about that a lot today and tomorrow before we make any decisions, because we are playing pretty well right now,” Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians said on Monday.

Arians named Watford the starting right tackle before the season opener against New Orleans, at which time he said it was Watford’s job to lose.

Although Arians said Watford has allowed some defenders to get their hands on Palmer, he remains pleased with the tackle’s run blocking.

“I thought Earl (Watford) played solid,” Arians said. “He’s given up too many hits on the quarterback, but he’s really helped our running game and for him to do the job he did, I thought was outstanding.”

Arians also said Iupati’s status will be updated Wednesday, although he did say there was “a little” swelling in the guard’s knee last week.

Iupati signed with the Cardinals in free agency this past offseason after a five-year stint with the San Francisco 49ers, this week’s opponent at University of Phoenix Stadium.

“I would think Iupati would want to get in this one,” Arians said. “It’s his style of game.”

GAME BALLS: The entire kickoff return team, Larry Fitzgerald and Josh Mauro all earned game balls for their performances against the Bears on Sunday. The kickoff return team blocked and created a crease which David Johnson bolted through to return the opening kickoff for a touchdown, Fitzgerald caught three touchdown passes in a regular season game for the first time in his career. Mauro, a defensive end, recorded his first career sack.

INJURY UPDATE: In addition to Iupati’s status, Arians confirmed rookie wide receiver J.J. Nelson will miss 2-4 weeks following a shoulder injury sustained in the second quarter of Sunday’s game. Arians said Nelson’s injury is a shoulder subluxation, a partial dislocation of the shoulder joint.

While Andre Ellington continues to nurse his PCL injury, Arians said Chris Johnson, who rushed for 72 yards on 20 carries against the Bears, remains the starting running back while rookie David Johnson, who returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown Sunday, will see his role increase each week.

PALMER, OFFENSE SHINE: Arizona leads the NFL in scoring with 79 points after two games, the most in franchise history through the first two weeks of a season. Carson Palmer (7) is tied with Tom Brady (7) for the league lead in touchdown passes this season. Palmer earned his eighth straight victory Sunday, becoming the first Cardinals quarterback to accomplish the feat since Ray Mallouf won 10 straight in 1948.

NO SACKS: Weeks 1 and 2 marked just the fourth time the Cardinals have gone consecutive weeks without allowing a sack since they were made an official stat in 1982. The team has not allowed a sack in six games dating back to last season after surrendering a sack in 51 straight games between from 2010 to 2014.