Cardinals turn back to John Skelton as starting quarterback

Kent Somers, USA TODAY Sports | USATODAY

TEMPE, Ariz. — John Skelton's third stint this season as the Arizona Cardinals' starting quarterback begins Sunday in Seattle, coach Ken Whisenhunt announced on Wednesday.

Skelton takes over for Ryan Lindley, who took over for Skelton, who took over for Kevin Kolb, who took over for Skelton, who was injured in the season opener against Seattle.

Got all that?

The Cardinals' quarterback position is not a carousel, it's spinning like a centrifuge.

Whisenhunt declined to give specific reasons for the change, other than to say playing in a tough environment such as CenturyLink Field was a factor.

Skelton was benched after the first quarter in Atlanta on Nov.18 and did not play in the past two games. Lindley completed only 10 of 31 pass attempts against the Jets last Sunday, but Whisenhunt didn't replace him.

So why now?

"There are a number of reasons we're making this decision," Whisenhunt said. "I'm not going to get into each one of those."

Skelton said he's tried to stay ready since being benched.

"It's another opportunity," he said. "You can't take any opportunity for granted. If it comes at the end of the season, the beginning of the season, if you're losing, if you're winning, whatever."

Skelton displayed his dry wit when meeting with reporters on Wednesday. Asked whether he was going to change the way he played, given that he was lifted after one quarter in Atlanta, Skelton said: "I think my biggest concern would be completing more balls. Starting 2-for-7 in the Atlanta game wasn't very good."

Skelton called his benching humbling.

"I think me being kind of even-keeled helps the situation," he said. "I don't let myself worry about it too much."

Asked if he ever felt like slamming something against a wall, Skelton said, "No, not my way."

Skelton wouldn't be starting if Kolb were healthy enough to play, but Kolb said he has reached a plateau in his recovering from detached ribs and sprained shoulder joint.

A recent MRI revealed swelling in the rib area. The three detached ribs are now healing on the back, or under side of the sternum, and that has made recovery more difficult.

"When I really try to push it in the weight room, when I really try to push the ball downfield, I kind of hit my wall," he said. "It's not necessarily just pain. There is swelling and just the lack of function, really. This level is not like coming back and playing as a senior in high school. It's an elite level and if you are going to go out there, you have to be ready to fire on all cylinders."

Kolb has missed six games and isn't sure he will play again this year.

"I've got to keep pushing," he said. "I've got to do it for myself, my sanity."

The Cardinals record (4-8) has no impact on Kolb's willingness to return, he said.

"As a player, I always have a lot to prove," Kolb said, "and these guys are warriors in here, and I want to be a warrior for them, too. I know that's what people are thinking, but I'm very tight with a bunch of people in here, and if I get the chance, I'm going to out there and battle with them."

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Somers also writes for The Arizona Republic, a Gannett property