Rookie Ryan Lindley to start for Cardinals against Rams

Kent Somers, USA TODAY Sports | USATODAY

TEMPE, Ariz. — If this Arizona Cardinals season had gone as planned, quarterback Ryan Lindley would have enjoyed a placid first year in the NFL, working quietly behind the scenes and far down the depth chart where few people could see him.

Instead, little has gone right for the offense, and now the Cardinals will see whether Lindley, a rookie from San Diego State, can change that.

Coach Ken Whisenhunt announced on Wednesday that Lindley would start Sunday against the St. Louis Rams. The move was not surprising, given that Lindley replaced John Skelton in the second quarter last week at the Atlanta Falcons. Lindley completed nine of his 20 pass attempts for 64 yards in that game, his first NFL appearance.

"Ryan will start for us and hopefully give us a spark and play well," said Whisenhunt.

The Cardinals (4-6) have lost six consecutive games. Skelton started the past four and was replaced in Atlanta after the series in which he missed wide-open receiver Larry Fitzgerald for a touchdown pass.

The Cardinals were ahead 13-0 when Skelton threw his last pass of the game.

On Wednesday, Skelton said he was "frustrated with the whole situation. I've just got to move forward from it."

Asked what specifically frustrated him, Skelton said: "Right now, just the whole situation. Obviously, losing six in a row is frustrating. What transpired on Sunday and then now, the benching, obviously is frustrating."

Frustration is a common emotion around the Cardinals' headquarters these days. They are in the midst of the third long losing streak in three seasons, and Lindley will be the fifth quarterback to start for them since Kurt Warner retired after the 2009 season.

Lindley was a four-year starter in college, and Cardinals coaches have raved about his maturity and work habits.

He entered his rookie season with no expectations, he said.

"I told you guys that my main goal was to just get better every week," Lindley said. "I knew the chips were going to fall as they were. I don't think anybody can predict the future, so I didn't spend much time doing that. I just made sure if it ever happened, I was ready and I got better every week."

Lindley said it's not in his nature to be nervous on Sunday. "Excited," he said, was a better description.

"I don't really get nervous," he said. "I'm going to be excited. I'm probably going to have to take a deep breath and make sure I'm cool, calm and composed. But that's going to be more excitement, not nervousness."

In Atlanta, Lindley did a "nice job" of handling the offense, Whisenhunt said. His first NFL game was on the road, in a loud dome, against one of the NFL's better teams, the Falcons.

"There didn't seem to be any struggles on his part," Whisenhunt said. "The speed of the game, getting used to that, being able to be comfortable with the offense and made the reads and the throws, he's done a nice job of that since he's been here."

Lindley, 6-3 and 232 pounds, was one of seven rookies to play for the Cardinals last week, including four on offense. The starting tackles, Nate Potter and Bobby Massie, are rookies, as is Michael Floyd, a backup receiver.

"There have been adjustments all season," guard Daryn Colledge said. "It starts with the offensive line, all the way through everybody. We've had enough injuries and enough controversy for anybody for one season. Everybody's adapted."

Lindley's move into the starting role is an indication that Kevin Kolb is not yet ready to play. He is recovering from detached ribs and a sprained shoulder joint suffered in Week 6 against the Buffalo Bills.

Kolb has missed four games, but practiced on Wednesday for the first time since the injury.

"I felt pretty good," he said. "There is some stuff that affected me a little bit but overall, I feel very positive."

Kolb appeared to have zip on his passes in Wednesday's practice, but said he doesn't feel normal when forced to throw quickly and forcefully.

"When he (receiver) buzzes up late and you've got to turn and make an athletic, accurate throw," he said. "You have to do that in this game,obviously."

***

Kent Somers also writes for The Arizona Republic, a Gannett property