As was the case with most NFL teams in week one, the Arizona Cardinals were unable to escape without injury. Their starting center, Al Johnson, suffered a left knee "sprain" on Monday night and was scheduled to undergo an MRI yesterday. Although the results have not yet been made available, his status for week two is already in doubt."Since Lyle [Sendlein] finished the game, he'll be the one who takes it this week," Whisenhunt said yesterday.Although Whisenhunt appears ready to give Lyle Sendlein the starting nod in week two, that is subject to change pending the addition of free agent Chukky Okobi. The former Steeler, who has connections to Russ Grimm and Ken Whisenhunt, visited the Cardinals yesterday and reportedly took a physical.
A veteran addition would be huge for Arizona if it turned out Johnson was going to miss more than a week.
"The thing that is critical at that position is communication from the center; he is the focal point of the communication," Whisenhunt said. "Last night when Lyle was in there, it affected Deuce's play and Levi's play because we were not as efficient communicating."Johnson's MRI results should be revealed later today, at which point the status of Okobi will also be determined.
Update: Thanks to reader David Corcoran for updating me on this situation. The Cardinals have officially signed Okobi, as well as offensive lineman Brad Badger.
When the Giants released Luke Petitgout in early February, they seemed to have a plan. They seemed content with moving David Diehl over to that position, but now it appears they are second guessing themselves.
