Read More: David DeCastro (G – Stanford), Matt Kalil (OT – Southern Cal), Arizona Cardinals

This week is the week of the NFL Combine, where draft prospects will show their “measurables” and have their intangibles analyzed. They will be poked and prodded so that the teams can get a better idea of whether or not they want to draft a guy. In preparation of that, there are new mock draft projections anticipating those workouts.

SB Nation mocked the draft and this week’s version stays somewhat consistent for the Arizona Cardinals.

Once again, they are expected to grab Stanford G David DeCastro.

DeCastro might be the best offensive lineman in the draft behind Matt Kalil. He is, however, a guard, a position less hyped than outside pass protectors. Either way, Arizona needs help, and with Reiff and Martin off the board, DeCastro is their next best pick. The question on everyone’s mind between now and April is whether DeCastro will be picked higher than this.

Cardinals fans know that the offensive line is a huge need, but the interior might be seen as overlooked. DeCastro could help solidify the middle of the line and ideally help make the tackles look not quite as bad.

You can talk more Cardinals over at Revenge of the Birds.

For the latest AZ sports, follow us on Twitter @SBNArizona and “Like” us on Facebook.

The Cardinals’ defensive game plan against the Seahawks in Week 3 was rudimentary compared with the schemes coordinator Ray Horton is calling more than three months later.

“We played almost nothing in that game; I didn’t think we could,” Horton said. “And now we have, I’d say probably 90 percent of our stuff in and it’s available and called.

“On my call sheet, there is only one play I’m not going to call, definitely, and the rest is available. So we are light years ahead.”

The Cardinals played well defensively in the 13-10 loss to Seattle, but the Seahawks offense was dealing with numerous injuries at the time. The Seahawks gained just 261 total yards and scored one touchdown.

But the Cardinals forced only one turnover, a problem throughout the season. The Cardinals have just nine interceptions and nine fumble recoveries.

Improving upon that is one of Horton’s goals for next season.

“The other was probably figuring out what we’re doing on ‘goal line,’ ” Horton said. “Those are the two things that stick out. Every time we get in what we call goal line personnel, they score. And we’re not NFL level on turnovers. Those are the main things we will really look at.”

Porter wants to play

Outside linebacker Joey Porter’s only two seasons in Arizona ended in injury, but even though he will be 35 in March, he would like to play in 2012.

“Last year was the first time I had ever been on IR (injured reserve),” said Porter, who had a triceps injury last year. “To have it (an injury) again this year, it was just like, ‘Man.’ But you play this game long enough, you’re going to cross that road eventually.”

Porter underwent surgery to repair meniscus in his left knee in October and was not able to return. Even if healthy, he would have been a reserve.

“I haven’t even crossed the path of thinking (retirement) yet,” he said. “Once I get healthy with my knee, everything else is fine.”

A fine Friday

Defensive end Darnell Dockett was fined $30,000 for two illegal hits in last Saturday’s game against the Bengals. Dockett was called for a horse-collar tackle and for hitting quarterback Andy Dalton in the knee area.

Safety Adrian Wilson was not fined for a hit on Dalton that drew a roughing the passer penalty. That’s a tacit admission by the NFL that the hit was legal.

That penalty nullified an interception by cornerback Patrick Peterson, and the Bengals ended up scoring a field goal.

Injury update

Quarterback Kevin Kolb (concussion) and cornerback Patrick Peterson (Achilles’) are listed as questionable for Sunday’s game, but Peterson seems to fit that category better.

Kolb has been limited in practice and is still experiencing concussion symptoms, Whisenhunt said on Friday. It would be surprising if he plays.

Peterson practiced Friday for the first time this week, and he will be tested before the game to assess his readiness.

Tackle Brandon Keith (ankle) was ruled out.

Happy holidays

Offensive tackle D.J. Young received a belated Christmas gift earlier this week when he was promoted from the practice squad to the regular roster.

Young was on the practice squad all season, making $5,700 a week. This week, he’s making the minimum salary for a rookie, a little more than $22,000.

He has the Eagles to thank. They tried to sign him off the Cardinals’ practice squad this week, and the Cardinals responded by offering to promote Young.

It wasn’t a hard decision for Young, who is from Lansing, Mich., and played at Michigan State.

“It wasn’t tempting at all,” Young said of the Eagles’ offer. “You’re dealing with nice, sunny skies every day out here. The Cardinals obviously see some potential, but there’s obviously stuff I need to work on. I’m happy they want me to be here.”

Young has an opportunity to make the regular roster in 2012. The Cardinals have not drafted an offensive lineman since 2009.

Campbell, Fitzgerald honored

The local chapter of the Pro Football Writers Association gave defensive end Calais Campbell the Lloyd Herberg MVP Award and receiver Larry Fitzgerald the Steve Schoenfeld Good Guy Award on Friday.

Campbell, in his fourth season, leads the Cardinals with eight sacks and has also knocked down 11 passes and blocked three field goals.

Fitzgerald, who won the MVP award in 2007, was recognized for being available, insightful and professional in dealing with media.

The awards are named after two former Cardinals and NFL beat writers for The Republic.

Herberg covered the Cardinals from the time they moved to Arizona in 1988 until 1994, when he died of cancer.

Schoenfeld covered the NFL and the Cardinals from 1988 to the summer of 2000. He was killed by a hit-and-run driver in October 2000.

Sunday | 2:15 p.m. | University of Phoenix Stadium

TV: Channel 10 (Sam Rosen, Chad Pennington); Radio: 92.3 KTAR-FM (Dave Pasch, Ron Wolfley), 710 KBMB-AM (Gabriel Trujillo, Rolando Cantu).

Noteworthy: The Cardinals and Seahawks meet for the 26th
time, with Arizona holding a 13-12 advantage in the all-time series. … Arizona enters this week’s contest looking to end a three-game losing streak to their division foe. … The Cardinals hold a 7-4 record at home against the Seahawks all-time, having won four of the past five games at University of Phoenix Stadium.

The Arizona Republic

Another week, another standout running back on the other team.

And another test for the weary Browns run defense, which ranks 31st out of 32 NFL teams in allowing an average of 150.9 yards rushing per game.

This week, it’s Arizona Cardinals running back Beanie Wells. The former Akron Garfield and Ohio State star is a burly 6-2, 229 pounds, and he’s used his brash style to run for 943 yards in 12 games this season. That’s an average of 4.4 yards per carry, and it’s helped him to score nine touchdowns for the resurgent Cardinals, who are 6-7.

“He’s really a good runner. He’s had some outstanding games, as you well know,” Browns defensive coordinator Dick Jauron said last week. “He’s a big, powerful runner. We’ll be tested.”

Wells is coming off a season-low 27 yards last week against San Francisco. But he ran for his season-best 228 yards against St. Louis three games ago. Wells contends that the Browns’ defensive line will play a large part in determining which end of that spectrum he falls in today.

“They’re big and they’ve got a couple of young guys in [Phil] Taylor and [Jabaal] Sheard, they’re amazing guys,” Wells said last week. “They’re going to be good football players in this league for a long time.”

But Wells, in his third season with Arizona, is proving that he has what it takes to remain in the league, too.

“He’s physical, he’s strong, he can break tackles, he’s got quickness through the hole and when he gets out on the perimeter, I think he can score with it,” Browns head coach Pat Shurmur said. “So those are the challenges. Again, it goes back to playing good team defense.”

Another strong running back, another test for the Browns’ run defense.

From head to toe, there probably is not a part of Cardinals quarterback Kevin Kolb that isn’t sick of being asked about his head and toe.

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NFL power rankings | This week’s games | NFC standings | AFC standings

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After a month’s worth of focus on a turf toe, the attention now is on Kolb’s head. He suffered a concussion on the third offensive play Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers, an injury that could cause him to miss Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns.

Kolb said it was “beyond frustrating” to suffer the injury after missing four games because of a foot injury that included turf toe, and after he played well in the second half of a victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Dec. 4.

On Tuesday, Kolb passed neurological tests mandated by the NFL, but that doesn’t mean he will play against the Browns. He practiced “a little” Wednesday and hopes to increase activity as the week progresses.

If all goes well, he could play. Or Kolb and coaches could decide a week off is warranted.

“That’s the key, too, not pushing too hard where we have setbacks,” Kolb said of his practice plans. “That’s the plan, to do a little more every day and get back out there as soon as possible.”

The Cardinals have been through similar situations the past few years. In 2009, quarterback Kurt Warner suffered a concussion at St. Louis and was cleared to play the next week against the Tennessee Titans. But he told coaches on the morning of that game that he wasn’t able to play.

Last season, quarterback Derek Anderson suffered a concussion that kept him out several games.

Colt McCoy, the Browns’ starting quarterback, also is dealing with a concussion suffered in the team’s last game, although his condition appears to be worse than Kolb’s.

McCoy suffered a concussion when he was hit by Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison last Thursday. Unlike Kolb, McCoy was allowed to return to the game because the Browns’ medical team was unaware he had suffered a blow to the head.

McCoy returned to the game, which prompted his father to criticize the team’s handling of the situation and for officials from the NFL and the players’ union to meet with the Browns.

“Obviously, hindsight is 20-20,” Browns coach Pat Shurmur said in a conference call with Arizona reporters Wednesday. “As coaches on the field, you see a lot of collisions during the game, and we don’t have the benefit of replay or HDTV. For a lot of us, the world is just kind of fuzzy anyway.

“We have an excellent medical staff. They gave Colt great care on the sideline, and they said to me, ‘Hey, he’s ready to play.’ Aside from the interception before the half, you could say he was battling through a gritty AFC North game.”

In the Cardinals game, John Skelton replaced Kolb, who wasn’t allowed to return. Kolb stood on the sideline for a while, but the stadium lights and noise bothered him. He returned to the locker room.

“Concussions are a weird deal,” Kolb said. “It’s kind of foggy. It’s a gray line. You don’t really know. That’s why a lot of times players don’t speak up. They don’t really know. “

Kolb said he would be honest with the medical staff about how he’s feeling because he wants to avoid a setback.

“I want to be out there ASAP, but at the same time try to protect my health,” he said.

While Kolb is limited in practice, Skelton will get most of the work. He passed for three touchdowns last week in the victory over the 49ers but also had two interceptions and lost a fumble.

McCoy isn’t likely to play, which means Seneca Wallace would start.

“I don’t know how they handled it in Cleveland,” Whisenhunt said when asked to compare how the Cardinals handled Kolb’s injury with how the Browns handled McCoy’s.

“All I can speak about is the way our guys did it. They’ve done a great job with it when we’ve had situations that have arisen in the past. The number one thing is, if there is ever a doubt, you err to the side of caution, and that’s the way we are going to proceed.”

Read More: Kerry Rhodes (S – ARI), Chansi Stuckey (WR – ARI), Joey Porter (LB – ARI), Moran Norris (FB – SFX), D’Anthony Batiste (OT – ARI), Patrick Willis (LB – SFX), Jaymar Johnson (WR – ARI), Daniel Kilgore (G – SFX), Ian Williams (DT – SFX), Mike Person (G – SFX), Scott Tolzien (QB – SFX), Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, St. Louis Rams

As the Arizona Cardinals get set to host their division rival San Francisco 49ers at University of Phoenix Stadium, they will be without the services of a couple of important pieces to their defense in Kerry Rhodes and Joey Porter. 

The Cardinals will be without a few players this week, highlighted by linebacker Joey Porter and safety Kerry Rhodes, who both made their return to practice this week dealing with knee and foot injuries respectfully. Wide receivers Chansi Stuckey Bartel, Stephen Williams and Jaymar Johnson will not be suiting up for Arizona either,  neither will offensive tackle D’Anthony Batiste.

For the 49ers, they will be without All-Pro linebacker Patrick Willis who suffered a hamtrain strain early in their last game against the St. Louis Rams. San Francisco will also be without  QB Scott Tolzien, WR Brett Swain, FB Moran Norris,  offensive guards Daniel Kilgore and Mike Person and defensive tackle Ian Williams. 

For more in depth discussion and analysis on the Cardinals, head over to Revenge of the Birds to get your fix. 

Unless quarterback Kevin Kolb stubs that troublesome big right toe on the end table overnight or some other unexpected trauma to that foot occurs, he and Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt expect him to start Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys.

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Cardinals-Cowboys injury report

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After the Cardinals practiced Friday, Kolb said the right-foot injury that has sidelined him for four games felt the best it has since he suffered the injury, which included turf toe, a ligament strain and a bone bruise.

“We had a good, crisp practice, so I don’t see any reason why it would inhibit me from playing,” said Kolb, calling it a “drastic change” from the soreness he felt last week.

Kolb’s adaption to the Cardinals offense might be aided by him watching the offense like a coach would in recent weeks.

“Shoot, the way we operated it today, it looked like it helped a little bit,” Kolb said. “Hopefully we can do it on Sunday.”

Whisenhunt stopped short of guaranteeing that Kolb will start Sunday, in case Kolb’s foot soreness returns. But the coach said there was “a good chance” that Kolb would play because of his progress and the number of snaps he took this week. Kolb said his main concern will be adapting to game speed, although Whisenhunt said Kolb improved throughout the week.

“The main thing is don’t let your mind race,” Kolb said. “Don’t get to thinking too quick and just go with what you know and trust in your reads.”

Kolb said he feels prepared for the various looks that will called by Dallas defensive coordinator Rob Ryan but does not feel pressure to live up to the expectations that his arrival in Arizona brought.

“There’s been pressure on me since I was a seventh-grader in middle school,” Kolb said. “I really try to block it all out. I really do. I don’t read stuff. I don’t look at stuff. I don’t know if I’ve ever looked at a blog in my life. To say I never thought about it, I’d be lying, but I really don’t try to focus on it all.”

Peterson’s progress

Patrick Peterson has arrived as an NFL returner, and his progress as a cornerback is not far behind.

“He’s right on pace for a rookie corner to do what he’s doing,” Cardinals defensive coordinator Ray Horton said. “Love the kid.”

The November Special Teams Player of the Month is showing what his athleticism can do at cornerback, too, once his mechanics catch up. In a league with increasing coverage penalties, Peterson has received his share, but Horton believes officials do not account for his aggressive style.

“I go back to (New York Jets cornerback Darrelle) Revis and I watch him a lot, and if he’s the standard-bearer in the league as far as corners are concerned, he gets beat and he has hands on his guys,” Horton said. “I think they (officials) will understand that Patrick is a dynamic player. My hope is that they’ll understand that he has tight coverage because he’s that good.”

Arizona Cardinals update:

Beanie Wells blamed his failures to score on two long runs in St. Louis last week on the knee brace he started wearing the week before in San Francisco. The brace isn’t bulky, but it does restrict movement of his knee, Wells said, so a little bit of speed is lost.

Interesting news nugget this week from Mike Jurecki of XTRA 910 that Wells likely will need surgery after the season. That’s not a surprise, even though we know little about his injury. Wells has been dealing with swelling and pain each week. Swelling could mean there are loose particles in the joint or some other kind of damage. Wells wearing a brace could mean there are concerns about stability, which suggests a ligament could be involved.

Soon after Wells suffered the injury, Ken Whisenhunt said the structure of the knee was not damaged. That seems to bolster the idea that Wells has some unattached particles in the joint. That usually doesn’t require major surgery, but it’s painful and it’s telling that he’s playing through it.

–Still, whenever I hear about a guy playing hurt, I think back to last year with receiver Steve Breaston. He came back early from a knee injury because the team needed him. His toughness was lauded. But when it came time to re-sign him to a long-term contract, the Cardinals weren’t interested. They had concerns about Breaston’s knee, and he signed with the Chiefs. Players take on significant risk when they play hurt.

– Wells’ performance will be a big factor in Sunday’s game. The Cardinals need to run the ball efficiently to take pressure off quarterback Kevin Kolb and the guys up front protecting him. My guess is that if Wells has 80 yards of rushing, the Cardinals will be in the game.

– Speaking of Kolb, my guess is the Cardinals won’t ask him to do too much early. He hasn’t played in a month, and he’ll need some time to get in a rhythm. Kolb wasn’t playing well before he was hurt, and these last five games are critical for him and this offense.

–The defense should look at Sunday’s game as a chance to provide more evidence that it’s improved. The unit has allowed four touchdowns over the last four games, but the Cardinals played the Rams twice and the 49ers once in that stretch. Those aren’t offensive juggernauts. The Cowboys are much better, even though they will be without receiver Miles Austin.

– The development of a handful of young players has been important for this defense, but the improvement of some veterans shouldn’t be overlooked, either. Strong safety Adrian Wilson has played well over the past two months or so, and he’s been asked to alter his game. He’s not lining up in the box as much, he’s blitzing less, and he’s occasionally covering receivers. Richard Marshall’s ability to play both cornerback and safety has allowed the Cardinals to prosper while free safety Kerry Rhodes has been out. End Darnell Dockett is using different technique, too, two-gapping far more often than he ever has in his career.

Friday, December 2, 2011 at 05:16 PM

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Read More: Arizona Cardinals

Arizona Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt was clearly pleased at his Monday morning press conference. He was encouraged by the road win, only the second of the season, and was happy with the way his team finished the game late.

The Cardinals broke a tie with a field goal, got a defensive hold, and were able to run out the clock on offense. These are the types of late-game sequences that went against the Cardinals in several early season losses.

Obviously, a lot of praise went to Beanie Wells for his franchise record-breaking 228-yard game which is also the second-highest rushing game in the NFL this season (behind only 253 yards from the Cowboy’s DeMarco Murray which was also against the Rams).

“Beanie (Wells) is sore today (with) a little swelling but not as bad as we thought it might be,” Whisenhunt said.

“When he got his knee bent back, it looked horrible. At that point I’m sure most of us assumed that was it, he’s done, because he was already fighting the knee. But to his credit, he fought through and came back in and had a couple of big runs. Kudos to Beanie.”

Whisenhunt said that Wells has shown a lot of growth this season in his understanding of what it takes to succeed in the NFL.

Other than a few little nicks and bruises, the Cardinals came out of the game with no new injuries.

Kevin Kolb is expected to play this coming week against the Dallas Cowboys. He made a lot of progress last week and was able to participate in practice in a limited way and could have been activated and used later in the game. Whisenhunt said the artificial turf at the Edward Jones Dome caused concerns about his ability to warm up the foot after sitting on the sidelines.

“We are certainly a lot more optimistic about him going this week. It’s really going to depend on where he is Wednesday and as that progresses but he made enough progress last week that you feel good about him doing it this week,” Whisenhunt said

John Skelton had another poor game with two interceptions and a 12-for-23 completion rate. Whisenhunt said a change in protection call that lead to an early sack got in his head and that he appeared uncomfortable. When Skelton sets his feet and has good technique he throws the ball well. Otherwise, as we saw, the ball can sail.

Other Notes:

• In the past few games where the Cardinals haven’t ran the ball well, Whisenhunt stressed other teams loading up in the box to take away the run. Against the Rams, Whisenhunt said they saw a mix. He credited the wide receivers for blocking well against the St. Louis pressure defense.
• Whisenhunt challenged his team to run the ball well. He had read comments from some Rams players saying they had shut down the Cardinals in their last game and would do so again. The offensive line and Wells responded well.
• Sam Acho made a difficult transition to stand up linebacker with no offseason. He’s always talking to veterans when he comes off field.
• “He’s (Acho) worked hard and I think he’s got a very bright future at that position. Obviously, two sacks (Sunday), causing the fumbles, he came up big for us. It’s really exciting to see young guys, especially a player like Sam where we drafted him, making that kind of contribution.” — Whisenhunt
• Whisenhunt would push for Patrick Peterson for the Rookie of the Year. “What’s he’s done is special.” 
• Teams try to kick away from Peterson but sometimes the punter doesn’t get it right. By kicking to the sidelines, the Cardinals also have an improved chance at getting better field position.
• Wells was allowed to run one final time to set the rushing record thanks to team PR guy, Mark Dalton, who informed Whisenhunt during the two-minute warning that he was close. Breaking the record was important for the entire team, not just Beanie.

There’s still a slim chance Kevin Kolb could return as the Cardinals’ starting quarterback Sunday, but judging from John Skelton’s comments Friday, it seems much more likely Skelton will make his fourth consecutive start instead.

He talked about Sunday’s game at the St. Louis Rams as being another opportunity for him “to move forward” and how he was looking to “redeem” himself after a rough performance against the 49ers.

Unlike Skelton, Kolb didn’t talk to reporters Friday, which is one sign he still may not be ready to start. He was limited in practice Friday and the team listed him as questionable because of his injured right foot, which includes turf toe and a bone bruise.

“He’s worked through it every day and he’s been sore,” head coach Ken Whisenhunt said. “But getting the rust off was what was important this week and seeing if he would be able to play from a standpoint of practicing one day and seeing how it reacted the next day.

“The next thing for him, when we travel, is to see how it feels on the turf on Sunday.”

But when talking about Skelton, who is 2-1 as the starter, and how frustrated the quarterback was after his performance last week in San Francisco, you got the feeling Whisenhunt is preparing to start Skelton again.

“He was more down and angry than I’ve ever seen him before after the game,” Whisenhunt said. “I think he was disappointed in the way that he played and it was good. It was good to see that from him. If he has to go in this week and play, it will be interesting to see how he responds.”

Skelton completed just 6 of 19 passes for 99 yards in the 23-7 loss to the 49ers and he was intercepted three times. He acknowledged Friday it was probably the hardest he’s ever been on himself.

“Yeah, I think so,” he said. “I think you always want to redeem yourself after a game like that one. I’m always going to be my own worst critic and be harder on myself than anyone else is going to be on me.

“It’s just another opportunity to move forward, I guess.”

Another reason to think Skelton will start Sunday is how he answered a question about his level of comfort running the offense after four weeks.

“With each game it’s more and more comfortable,” he said. “Like anything, experience will always help.”

As for Kolb, who is 1-6 as the starter, Whisenhunt said the quarterback has “done a great job of rehabbing (the foot injury) and trying to get back. It just takes a little bit of time.”

“He’s close to being able to play a whole game without any type of problems, even knowing that he would be sore.”

Injury updates

In addition to Kolb, the Cardinals listed four other players as questionable against the Rams. They are cornerback Michael Adams (hamstring), right tackle Brandon Keith (head) and tight ends Todd Heap (hamstring) and Rob Housler (groin).

Four players are listed as probable – running back Beanie Wells (knee), defensive tackle Darnell Dockett (groin), linebacker Paris Lenon (groin) and running back/kick returner LaRod Stephens-Howling (shoulder) – but each practiced fully on Friday.

The Rams have ruled out three players, including starting left tackle Mark LeVoir (pectoral) and starting defensive tackle Justin Bannan (shoulder). Notable starters listed as questionable included defensive end Chris Long (ankle) and linebacker James Laurinaitis (foot). Starting cornerback Justin King (knee) is probable.

‘D’ getting better

Defensive coordinator Ray Horton said he has upgraded the team’s third-down packages to 50 percent of the playbook, up from 30 percent a few weeks ago.

He noted the Cardinals have improved on third-down defense and in the red zone, but said the defense isn’t creating enough turnovers. To do that, they need to put more pressure on the quarterback.

The Rams’ Sam Bradford has been sacked 31 times this season, tied for the most in the NFL.

“We have to dramatically get better there. That’s going to be the key this week,” Horton said. “We’ve already told our guys, ‘We have to win up front.’ “

Quick kicks

Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald was named as the NFL’s best-dressed player in a recent Sports Illustrated poll of 250 players.

Friday, though, he was walking around in baggy black sweat pants that were ripped in multiple strips at the cuffs.

“Hey,” he said, “I gotta keep it funky in practice.”

- With one more sack, the Rams’ Long will reach double digits and join Green Bay’s Clay Matthews as the only players to each register at least 10 sacks in at least one season, along with their fathers, since the stat became official in 1982.

Long’s father, Hall of Famer and NFL analyst Howie Long, and Matthews’ father, Clay Jr., each had 10-sack seasons.

The bar is set high in the NFL, and Cardinals nose tackle Nick Eason, a nine-year veteran, says all players – no matter what situation they find themselves in – have to strive to reach it.

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Cardinals-Rams injury report

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“I always tell guys a standard is a standard,” said Eason, a nine-year veteran who joined the Cardinals as a free agent in the off-season.

“What that means is, regardless of who’s in the game, the coaches expect the guys that are backups or whatever your role is on the team, they expect you to perform at the level they expect you to perform at.”

With nose tackle Dan Williams out with a broken arm suffered against the 49ers, Eason and rookie David Carter will be expected to step in and play at a high level Sunday when the Cardinals play in St. Louis.

Coach Ken Whisenhunt said both Eason and Carter have played well.

“We’re going to miss Dan because Dan’s been playing really good, he’s come on,” Whisenhunt said. “I think we’ve got a veteran presence in Nick, and David Carter obviously has made some plays for us there this year. We feel good about them being able to step in there and handle that.”

Both players have made key contributions this season. Whisenhunt cited Eason’s experience as the reason he will get the starting nod Sunday. He characterized it as “the most stable way to go.”

Eason, a 6-foot-3 305-pounder who also plays defensive end, is primed for more playing time.

“I’ve been called on in the past when I was with the Steelers to come in and start eight or nine games in a season when we had an injury, so this is not my first time having to step in and perform,” Eason said.

“I’m pretty excited for the opportunity, but it’s a team defense. We all work together up front, work well with the linebackers and defensive backs. It’s a team effort, and I’m just a part of this team, going to plug myself in and do what I’m supposed to do and play within the framework of the defense.”

For Carter, the sixth-round draft choice out of UCLA, the opportunity is one he can handle because of the seasonlong preparation to take on more responsibility. He called Williams “a great player,” but added that he and Eason can fill the position without a drop-off in results.

And it’s also his chance to show the coaching staff that he can make even more of an impact.

“This is definitely an opportunity to showcase myself, and to get that extra step toward a starting position, so I’m definitely looking forward to taking advantage of it and having a great game this week,” he said.

Whisenhunt likes what he has in both players. In Eason’s case, his experience and presence give the Cardinals a boost off the field, as well.

“He gives you a voice that, as a veteran player, you can count on, that helps these younger guys get better,” Whisenhunt said. “I think he has helped Calais (Campbell) and Dan Williams become better players, as far as understanding the defense and the techniques involved.”

Carter, a 300-pounder who stands 6-5, was not a hot commodity in the draft, and his play has been a surprise, Whisenhunt said, adding that he took the opportunity presented and made the most of it.

“It was good to find a young player like that who has contributed the way he has,” Whisenhunt said. “He has shown us that he has the ability to play some end as well. Once again, you don’t have expectations that young players are going to come in and contribute quickly like he did, but kudos to him.”

Getting his kicks

David Zastudil has been punting at a high level for the past month, and he says it’s been a group effort.

“We’ve got a great coverage team, a great special-teams coach (Kevin Spencer), and it helps my game, too,” he said. “I come to practice every day, I try to work hard. Punting is a group effort, and I’m blessed to have great coverage teams.”

He equated punting to golf – he’s never satisfied with the results.

“There’s a lot of things that I really think in all honesty that I can still improve on,” he said. “We’ve got six games to go, and I’m working in practice hard to try and correct some things that I know I can do better. I’m just blessed to have a coach and special teams that really have a goal each week to be the best that they can be on that Sunday.”

Keith update

Right tackle Brandon Keith, who suffered a concussion in Sunday’s loss to the 49ers, has not practiced this week. Whisenhunt said Keith could be on the field for Friday’s workout if he passes a concussion test, is symptom-free and gets clearance from the medical staff.

Read More: cardinals injury report, Kerry Rhodes (S – ARI), Stewart Bradley (LB – ARI), Kevin Kolb (QB – ARI), Todd Heap (TE – ARI), Paris Lenon (LB – ARI), Joey Porter (LB – ARI), Michael Adams (CB – ARI), Brandon Keith (OT – ARI), John Skelton (QB – ARI), Anthony Sherman (FB – ARI), Rob Housler (TE – ARI), Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals still do not know who their starting quarterback will be on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers. But John Skelton better be prepared to start this week when they get ready to take the field.

Cardinals quarterback Kevin Kolb continues to struggle to move on his foot, which means that he probably won’t be ready to go this week.  Kolb was listed as limited on Wednesday’s injury report, indicating that he’s definitely trying to practice and make his way back on the football field, but it doesn’t look like he’s totally all the way back. This will force Skelton back to action. Skelton has proven he can move the football down the field (even if the movement is inconsistent) and get the Cardinals into scoring position. Kolb might not provide a huge leap in talent regardless, so Skelton might be the best option this week until the starting Cardinals QB heals all the way back.

Here’s a full list of Cardinals injuries.

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE: TE Todd Heap (hamstring), TE Rob Housler (groin), LB Joey Porter (knee), S Kerry Rhodes (foot), RB Chris Wells (knee)

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE: CB Michael Adams (hamstring), LB Stewart Bradley (ribs), T Brandon Keith (knee), QB Kevin Kolb (toe), LB Paris Lenon (groin), RB Anthony Sherman (ankle), KR LaRod Stephens-Howling (shoulder)

For more on the Cardinals, go to Revenge of the Birds.

No Cardinals player was happier to be in the locker room Wednesday than fullback Reagan Maui’a. He rejoined the team Tuesday because fullback Anthony Sherman suffered an ankle injury Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens.

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Cards QB Kolb still battling toe injury | Cardinals-Rams injury report

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Maui’a, the team’s fullback a year ago, was cut after training camp. A short time later, it became known that Maui’a was suspended for the first three games of the season for violating the NFL’s drug policy.

That likely didn’t have an impact on his making the team, because Sherman was the favorite to win the job all along.

Maui’a remained in the Phoenix area, stayed in shape and waited for a team to call, he said. And he worked on personal issues.

“Spiritually, I fixed a lot of things,” he said. “Just got closer to God and kept my faith.”

Maui’a said the suspension was a result of alcohol abuse.

“About two years ago, I was a real bad drinker,” Maui’a said, “shied away from God and got into alcohol. I don’t know how long it’s been, but I haven’t had a drink in a very long time. I’m very proud of that. I’m not ashamed of it.

“Everyone drinks and does things they don’t really like, but to be able to overcome it and be a better person today, that’s something I’m proud of.”

Beanie’s knee

Running back Beanie Wells said after Sunday’s game that his right-knee ailment would be something he would have to manage all season.

That was evident again Wednesday. Wells didn’t practice, and coach Ken Whisenhunt said the running back “is going to be in this cycle where he works back into shape for the game every week. He’s going to be limited or work through things earlier in the week, and he’ll get more (work) as the week progresses.”

Wells carried 22 times for 83 yards and a touchdown Sunday against the Ravens. But he said he lacked his usual explosiveness. Against the Ravens, the Cardinals limited Wells’ carries by using their other three backs: LaRod Stephens-Howling, Alfonso Smith and Chester Taylor. They likely will use the same strategy Sunday against the St. Louis Rams.

“Beanie Wells is a horse,” Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo said. “He can run outside, inside. He cuts it back, he runs over people, he can shake people. He’s a premier back.”

Injury update

Quarterback Kevin Kolb (toe), Wells (knee), tight end Rob Housler (groin), safety Kerry Rhodes (foot) and Sherman (ankle) didn’t practice Wednesday.

Tight end Jim Dray (pectoral), tight end Todd Heap (hamstring), defensive lineman Nick Eason (Achilles’), outside linebacker Joey Porter (knee) and Stephens-Howling (shoulder) were limited.

For the Rams, quarterback Sam Bradford (ankle), defensive tackle Darell Scott (head) and tackle Jason Smith (head) did not practice. Receiver Danario Alexander (hamstring), linebacker Brady Poppinga (calf) and guard Tony Wragge (knee) were limited.

Read More: nfl picks week 8, nfl expert picks week 8, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, St. Louis Rams

The San Francisco 49ers host the Cleveland Browns this Sunday looking to improve to 6-1 on the season. While their own wins are important enough, the rest of the NFC West has continued to provide support for the the 49ers run at the NFC West title. The Arizona Cardinals and St. Louis Rams have combined to lose eleven straight games, while the Seattle Seahawks have bounced back and forth and managed only a pair of wins.

Given the road the 49ers are taking through the NFC West, each week we’ll provide a rundown of NFC West picks. Additionally, we’ll provide picks on games that affect the 49ers playoff positioning. If the 49ers can maintain their current pace, or really anything close to it, they would be the first team to clinch their division. This would mean they would have an opportunity to secure a bye and possibly home field advantage. Accordingly, various games are of great importance to them.

New Orleans Saints @ St. Louis Rams: While this is a home game for the Rams, the New Orleans Saints are coming off a demolition of the Indianapolis Colts. It may have been a crappy Colts team, but the victory was impressive nonetheless. There is a chance of overlooking the Rams, but following Baltimore’s stunning upset in Jacksonville, I suspect most big teams will try to avoid looking ahead. Even though the Rams are basically out of the race, the Saints are battling for the NFC South, which means battling San Francisco for that potential #2 seed. PICK: Saints

Cincinnati Bengals @ Seattle Seahawks: The Bengals are playing some solid football, but they will be without Cedric Benson this week as he serves his one-game suspension. Seattle is wildly inconsistent, so anything could happen in this game and it would not surprise me. I think this week, good things happen for Seattle. PICK: Seahawks

Arizona Cardinals @ Baltimore Ravens: The Cardinals get to travel to face a pissed off Ravens squad? Is there any way this does not end poorly for Arizona? PICK: Ravens

The Packers, Buccaneers and Falcons are all teams the 49ers could be dueling for playoff positioning moving forward, and it just so happens all three are on bye this week.

Current NFC Playoff Seeds

1. Green Bay Packers
2. San Francisco 49ers
3. New Orleans Saints
4. New York Giants
5. Detroit Lions
6. Chicago Bears*

*The tie breaker with Tampa Bay and Atlanta is a little funky at the moment