News And Events

A few seconds into coach Ken Whisenhunt’s press conference Monday, he declared a starter for the Cardinals preseason finale Thursday against the Denver Broncos -- for left and right tackle.

Whisenhunt was pleased enough with how D’Anthony Batiste played at left tackle and Bobby Massie at right tackle together during last week’s loss at Tennessee that he’s giving them another audition this week.

“The line did a nice job once we got stabilized after the start in Tennessee – ran the ball very well, protected it well,” Whisenhunt said. “We’ve got to see if we can carry it forward.”

After reviewing the game film, Whisenhunt said Batiste “looked comfortable” on both sides of the line against the Titans. On the other side, Massie has been up and down throughout the preseason, Whisenhunt said, but played well enough to earn him another start.

“It’s up to him if he wants to grab that and hold on to it,” Whisenhunt said.

The coach said he’s still open to acquiring a left tackle through a trade or free-agent signing, but is working to fill the position from the current roster. And that means planning for the unpredictable. On Monday, left guard Daryn Colledge took snaps at left tackle as a “contingency plan.”

Massie, who was selected in the fourth round of April’s draft out of Ole Miss, has been spending extra time with offensive line coach Russ Grimm reviewing defenses and blocking techniques.

The Cards played musical lineman against the Titans while trying to see with whom to replace Levi Brown, who’s out for the season with a torn right triceps muscle. Whisenhunt saw how well Massie and Batiste (who declined comment) worked together. The two mammoth linemen have grown close in the locker room, talking about football and “things outside football,” Massie said.

“We just communicate,” Massie said. “It (helps) because you know he’s got his man on lock and I’ve got mine on lock. It’s just a trust thing.”

SOME WORK FOR BARTEL

When quarterback Rich Bartel arrived at the Cardinals’ facility Monday he was given some good news: He was going to split all the snaps Thursday with fellow back-up slinger Ryan Lindley.

Bartel, a fourth-year player who saw action in two games with the Cardinals last season, thought he’d play against the Broncos, but he didn’t expect Kevin Kolb and John Skelton not to. Regardless of how either Lindley or Bartel plays, neither will compete for the team’s starting job. Both are battling for the third spot on the depth chart.

“I feel like they know what I have,” Bartel said. “I’ve been here. They’ve seen me play.

“I love to play and I will obviously take it. I don’t know what two quarters is going to prove but having said that, I want to put my best foot forward.”

BRONCOS GAME SELLS OUT

The game Thursday against the Broncos has been called a sellout, meaning it will be telecast live locally on ABC-15. It is the 65^th straight game at University of Phoenix Stadium that has sold out for the Cardinals.

INJURY UPDATE

Safety Adrian Wilson sat out part of Monday’s practice with a sore calf, although it’s not serious. Safety Rashad Johnson (abdomen), linebacker O’Brien Schofield (knee) and tight end Rob Housler (hamstring) also sat out at least some of the work.