Aug 24, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals tackle Jared Veldheer (68) against the Cincinnati Bengals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Oakland Raiders fans will be anticipating the return of former left tackle Jared Veldheer on Sunday afternoon when the Arizona Cardinals come to town for their highly anticipated Week 7 matchup, but Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians will be anticipating a needed improvement from the player who bolted from Oakland to Arizona in free agency after Veldheer was abused by Brian Orakpo during the team’s 30-20 win over Washington.

Veldheer was given a -3.1 rating by ProFootballFocus for his performance against Washington, allowing Carson Palmer to be hit twice and also allowing an extra hurry according to the PFF researchers. Arians noticed Veldheer’s poor performance and made light of it during a local radio interview where he said that it “wasn’t his best game,” in regards to the play of his free agent acquisition.

From Revenge of the Birds:

Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians was on the air on Arizona Sports 98.7 and spoke with hosts Dan Bickley and Vince Marotta about the play of the offensive line on Sunday against the Washington Redskins. Right tackle Bobby Massie got a game ball for his play, grading “90 percent against one of the best players in the league in Ryan Kerrigan.” Arians said “it was not his best game” for left tackle Jared Veldheer. “(Brian) Orakpo was getting him pretty good and he lost his technique,” he said.

Arians has to be awaiting better play from Veldheer, who has continued to struggle since returning from the triceps injury that derailed his final season in Oakland. In the 11 games since returning from the 2013 injury, Veldheer’s pass block rating from PFF is a -1.4 and a far cry from the 2012 season that put him on the map where he was one of the best left tackles in football and earned a very impressive 9.1 pass block rating from the evaluators at PFF. Getting good money to go to Arizona, the Cardinals are counting on Veldheer to protect Carson Palmer even more now that their starting quarterback has already missed time due to injury. Going back to the Black Hole, it won’t just be jilted Raiders fans who have a spotlight on Veldheer as his head coach is expecting better from his left tackle after being overwhelmed by a veteran linebacker in Orakpo.