There was no word yet on Tuesday about the injury left tackle Mike Gandy
suffered to his right calf during last week's loss at Washington.
Gandy, however, did not sound optimistic after the game, saying he didn't
have much strength in the leg.
Coach Ken Whisenhunt said on Monday that Gandy would be out a week or two. If
that's the case, rookie Levi Brown likely will start at left tackle. That would
be the least disruptive move the club could make.
Brown missed three games with a sprained ankle and played last week when
Gandy went out.
Brown has played right tackle since joining the Cardinals last April, but he
played left tackle throughout his career in college. By starting Brown at right
tackle, the Cardinals would be making one change instead of several.
Gandy's loss is an important one. He had played well this season, and the
team is thin at tackle.
PLAYER NOTES
--QB Kurt Warner will benefit from the bye week as much as anyone other
Cardinal. He still has discomfort in his left arm from the torn ligament in his
elbow. He played through it last week but the extra time should help him in
terms of pain management and flexibility.
--QB Tim Rattay won't start but he could continue to play a role in the
team's goal line offense. Starter Kurt Warner has trouble handing off, so
keeping him in the game in those situations is risky. Rattay came off the bench
in that spot last week.
--QB Tim Hasselbeck signed with the team a week ago and likely will continue
as the third quarterback.
--RB Edgerrin James has been steady and reliable this year. He hasn't gained
fewer than 57 yards in a game, and while he's gone over 100 just once, he's
averaging 88 yards a game.
--RB Marcel Shipp won't get many carries unless the Cardinals are able to run
the ball at least 30 times in a game. James will get most of the work to that
point.
--RB J.J. Arrington showed why the Cardinals thought he was worthy of a
second round pick in 2005. Arrington picked up some key yardage late in last
week's game against Washington. He will still be limited to nickel packages,
however.
--WR Larry Fitzgerald needs to become a deep weapon. The Cardinals should be
throwing deep to him at least three times a game, because Fitzgerald has a knack
for beating defenders for the ball.
--WR Anquan Boldin scored two touchdowns last week in his first game back
after missing three games with a hip injury. Boldin is likely to suffer for most
of the year with a sore hip.
--WR Bryant Johnson is an adequate No. 3 receiver but he's not going to get
the ball much.
--TE Leonard Pope showed last week that he can be a force in the passing
game. He appears to have occasional problems lining up, however.
--ILB Karlos Dansby has a sprained left knee and could miss a few weeks.
Monty Beisel will start in his place.
--S Aaron Francisco, one of the club's special teams standouts, has a
sprained MCL in his right knee and will be out three to four weeks.