Arizona Cardinals notes: Bruce Arians discouraged with Sean Weatherspoon

Inside linebacker Sean Weatherspoon is expected to miss a third consecutive preseason game this week because of a hamstring injury, increasing doubts he will be a starter when the season begins Sept. 13.

“I need to see a lot, haven’t seen anything yet,” coach Bruce Arians said when asked what he needs to see from Weatherspoon. “That’s very discouraging right now, to not know where he’s at as a football player, having missed most of last year and all of this camp.”

Weatherspoon missed all of last season with the Falcons after suffering an Achilles' injury in the offseason, and he missed nine games in 2013 with a foot injury.

The Cardinals signed Weatherspoon to a one-year contract this offseason, hoping he would fill a need caused by the continuing suspension of Daryl Washington.

Kevin Minter and Kenny Demens have been the team’s top two inside linebackers this preseason. Both have played well, said Arians, who also praised rookies Alani Fua and Gabe Martin.

It appears Larry Foote reverting from coach to player is not an option. He has until Monday to make that decision but, Arians said, “he’ll be in the press box I imagine.”

Foote started 15 games for the Cardinals last year and is now coaching inside linebackers.

Updated: Arizona Cardinals preseason depth chart

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After practicing at right tackle all summer, rookie tackle D.J. Humphries worked at left tackle with the second team in Monday’s practice.

Coaches want to train Humphries at both tackle positions because he might be the backup in Week 1. Starting right tackle Bobby Massiefaces a three-game suspension, so backup Bradley Sowell has taken his place.

“If he’s going to dress on Sundays, he’s got to be able to play both,” Arians said of Humphries,“so we’ve got to get him a little left-tackle work. That’s his natural position so it shouldn’t take him long to re-establish his footwork and stuff."

Earl Watford, primarily a guard, will see more time at right tackle beginning on Wednesday, when the team next practices.

Watford missed Monday’s practice with a sore ankle.

Johnson improves

Running back Chris Johnson’s hamstring injury has improved enough that he’s now day-to-day, Arians said. Johnson, who signed last week, suffered a hamstring strain on the last play of Thursday’s practice.

The Cardinals initially thought Johnson would be out one to two weeks.

“He’s had these ‘minors’ in the past and they’ve only lasted a few days,” Arians said. “Hopefully, it’s one of those.”

Increased time

Arians will play his starters an increased amount on Sunday in Oakland, but it will vary depending on the player.

Some will play into the third quarter, but quarterback Carson Palmer, in his 13th season, doesn’t fall into that category.

Some of the receivers might not see that much work, either.

“On our long drive (against the Chargers), Larry (Fitzgerald) and some of those guys got up into the 24-play range,” Arians said. “They got enough work. It’s a fine line anymore gauging the reps versus the conditioning of a ballgame. We’re trying to replicate some of that in practice.”

The first-team defense has played well, so its snaps have been limited. That unit could be a longer amount this week, Arians said.

“You continue to get three and four-and out, you not going to play much anyway,” Arians said.

Oh, snap

The Cardinals’ botched extra point last Saturday was the fault of long snapper Mike Leach, who snapped the ball too soon. It bounced off the facemask of holder Dave Zastudil.

“Twenty-five year vet, or whatever he is, snapping to a 30-year vet … you would not anticipate that out of those two guys but it did happen,” Arians said.

This is Leach’s 16th season and Zastudil’s 14th.

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