For better (John Skelton) or worse (Kevin Kolb), the Arizona Cardinals coaching staff has now observed both quarterbacks in live game action playing someone other than their own teammates.
We must remember Sunday’s small sampling against the Saints in Canton was simply that, a sampling, but until Friday night’s second pre-season game against the Chiefs, that’s the only body of work to critique.
Which isn’t good news for Kolb.
“There’s no positive way to spin it,” ESPN.com NFC West insider Mike Sando told Brad Cesmat Monday on ‘Big Guy on Sports.’ “I think it was as bad as it could be for him. His first pass was picked and then he gets hurt on his fourth attempt. It was just another opportunity for him that didn’t go as well as expected.”
No there isn’t any good way to spin it.
Kolb finished 1-4 for four yards and the interception. He had a quarterback rating of zero before leaving the game with what Ken Whisenhunt called a bruised chest muscle after being hit in the end zone . The injury does not appear to be serious, but it needs to be noted Kolb has now been injured in four consecutive games he’s played dating back to last season.
Not good for a player the franchise invested a quality young cornerback in Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, a second-round pick, and a fat 6-year, $65 million contract to.
“They need Kevin Kolb to be a factor in this [quarterback] race,” Sando explained to Cesmat. “And hopefully from their standpoint, emerge with the [starting] job. He didn’t prove last season that he could stay healthy and note to only last [a few] plays, that’s tough.”
Skelton was 4-6 for 32 yards and engineered the Cards lone touchdown drive in the second quarter.
Sando later said the competition is far from over and we’ll get a better idea of both quarterbacks progress, or lack their of, as training camp plays out.
Kolb and Skelton will get their second dress rehearsal Friday against a solid Kansas City defense. As Whisenhunt has done since off-season mini-camps this spring, the quarterbacks will rotate working with the first-team offense which means Skelton will likely be starting under center.
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Eric Sorenson
A Valley native, Eric has had a passion for the Arizona sports scene since an early age. He has covered some of the biggest events including Super Bowls, national championships and the NBA and MLB playoffs in his near 20 years in local media.