by John HickeyFiled under: Arizona Cardinals, NFC West
It was just a couple of weeks ago that Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt said he had no plans to have rookie quarterback John Skelton play in a game this year unless his hand was forced.It's been that, and then some. It's been wrenched.
Skelton was pushed into last Sunday's game when Derek Anderson (concussion) and backup Max Hall (shoulder) were hurt last week in a 19-6 loss to St. Louis.
Hall is on injured reserve and out for the year. Anderson hasn't been cleared to practice, much less play. It seems more than likely that Skelton will be the starter this week and Richard Bartel, newly signed from Sacramento of the UFL, will serve as the backup.
Both took turns running the offense in Wednesday's workout because both could wind up playing Sunday. Skelton is likely to start Sunday against Denver, but if he were to get hurt, the Cardinals need to know that Bartel, who initially went through a workout with Arizona two weeks ago, has a basic grasp of the team's offense.
For the moment, at least, Whisenhunt is holding off naming a starter. There is a remote chance that Anderson could be cleared and could then play, but in the current state of the NFL where concussions are not to be messed with, it's likely Anderson will sit this one out.
Whisenhunt, whose team has lost seven consecutive games to fall into last place in the NFC West, said the decision on the starting quarterback would come "later in the week.''
Asked what would happen in the event Anderson was cleared, Whisenhunt suggested that would be no guarantee that Anderson would start.
"We'd have to see how the week goes,'' Whisenhunt said. "I couldn't say if he didn't practice (that) he would play.''
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