FanHouse Oliver Ross

Taking into account that it's the preseason, many of the players sitting on the sidelines tonight would normally be on the field if it was a meaningful game. With that said, I'm sure most fans would like to know who they should expect to see this evening. For that reason, I've done by best to create an accurate injury report -- official reports are not posted until week one of the regular season.

Arizona Cardinals:

Out: Tackle Oliver Ross (tricep), defensive end Chike Okeafor (bicep), center/guard Nick Leckey (knee), fullback A.J. Schable (foot) and defensive tackle Jonathan Lewis (knee).

Questionable: Linebacker Monty Beisel (back).

Probable: Cornerback Eric Green (leg).

I really hate to be the bringer of bad news, but that's exactly what I have for you this evening. Unfortunately, the Cardinals could lose two starters for the year before the regular season even begins.

Chike Okeafor, who was injured in training camp, got his MRI results back today and they revealed torn left bicep. Adding to the misery, a club official also announced that starting right tackle Oliver Ross suffered a torn left tricep last night in the Cardinals 27-23 loss to the Oakland Raiders.

Both players will seek second opinions, but the outlook isn't promising. Should their respective injuries require surgery, they would each miss the entire 2007 season.

The news on Okeafor was not unexpected. He was on the injury report last night. But Ross wasn't, so his loss comes as a surprise. Rookie Levi Brown steps in and starts for him, but Okeafor's replacement isn't so clear cut.

The Cardinals just can't seem to catch a break.

Although the Arizona Cardinals were unable to walk away victorious, fans have to be happy with most of what they saw. The Cardinals played tough, gutsy football last night and the play calling was leaps and bounds better than last year. Unfortunately, they made some foolish penalties and played undisciplined football at times, which eventually cost them the game.

The offensive line did show some improvement over last year's squad, but not much. Obviously it's going to take them more than one preseason game to jell, so there is no reason to be concerned ... yet. On the plus side, Levi Brown made it clear that he will be worth all the money spent on him. Unfortunately for him, Oliver Ross played like an absolute stud out there and would be the clear starter if the regular season began today.

Another surprise was the play of running back Marcel Shipp (72 total yards). He really made a case for getting some additional carries this year by having an excellent night. Shipp was decisive and hit the holes hard. Although he didn't break off a run for more than eight yards, he was able to net five per carry for the game.

Training camp is finally here and FanHouse breaks down the most important position battles heading into the season, team by team.

The battle between Oliver Ross and first-round pick Levi Brown will be an intriguing one in Arizona for a variety of reasons. The fact that the Cardinals drafted Brown is a testament to what they thought about Ross protecting Matt Leinart. However, since Brown is likely to be late to camp, it could give Ross a head start and that may be all he needs to lock up the starting role.

Even if Ross leaves training camp as the starter, it will probably only be for the immediate future. Brown is poised to be a stud at right tackle and it would be a shame if the Cardinals didn't start him as soon as possible.

At the same time, we would all be foolish to overlook Ross. He's back under the tutelage of Russ Grimm, whom he had his best years playing for in Pittsburgh.

Training camp battles: See them all

Arizona Cardinals tackle Oliver Ross, who has started 17 games over the last two seasons, has taken a $1 million pay cut, according to the Arizona Republic.

Ross, who was scheduled to make $2.8 million this season, will now make $1.8 million but can make up the additional money in incentives. Although the details of the incentives weren't given, it's realistic to assume they involve playing time, something Ross is expected to see a lot of this year.

As it stands, Ross is penciled in as the Cardinals starting right tackle, but first-round pick Levi Brown (Penn State) is lurking. This battle will rage throughout training camp and the preseason, with a "winner" likely to come toward the end of that.

The final two years of Ross' five-year, $17.5 million contract were not altered.

If the Bidwill's are as sleazy as some former players claim they are, this is all part of a larger scheme to save $1 million.