azcentral sports

This is not a reality show, but the Arizona Cardinals should consider keeping some roses around for their defensive back depth chart.

The Cardinals confirmed Thursday they have lost their second starting cornerback. This time it's Robert Alford, who will be out "a significant amount of time" with a lower leg injury, head coach Kliff Kingsbury said.

According to Kingsbury, the injury occurred during Tuesday's outdoor practice.

"Obviously he was (supposed) to be one of the starters, being down a starter in the secondary is gonna be huge for us," defensive lineman Corey Peters said. "But just like anything else, it's an opportunity for somebody to step up and kind of fill that role."

Patrick Peterson started in Thursday night's preseason loss to the Oakland Raiders, but the perennial All-Pro has been suspended for the first six games of the regular season for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing drug policy.

The next men up on the Cardinals' depth chart appear to be rookie Byron Murphy and veteran Tramaine Brock Sr., who started opposite Peterson against the Raiders.

Alford, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, is expected to be out two months with the leg injury.