The Arizona Cardinals will go through the final half of their season without starting left tackle Jared Veldheer, who was lost for the rest of the season with a torn triceps. That thrusts John Wetzel into the starting lineup.

In the new role, he will often line up against opponents’ best edge rusher. He is the one to anchor the line and to protect Carson Palmer’s blind side.

Veldheer was player the coaches didn’t have to worry about. He lined up against a player and blocked him. They never had to give any extra help.

For Wetzel, it won’t be much different.

“We do have some protections where we give him a little bit of help, but for the most part he’ll be by himself,” offensive coordinator Harold Goodwin said via Kyle Odegard.

And it makes sense. If Wetzel is incapable of blocking players one-on-one, he probably should not be playing left tackle.

His teammates trust him and his coaches trust him. What’s left is for him to do it in a game at his natural position.