The Arizona Cardinals could return to some stability at left guard this week as they face the Pittsburgh Steelers on the road in Week 13. The team announced Wednesday that offensive lineman Elijah Wilkinson was designated to return from injured reserve.
The move opens a 21-day window allowing him to begin practicing again. He must be activated and placed on the active roster again by the end of the 21-day window or he must remain on IR for the remainder of the season.
Wilkinson was the Cardinals’ starting left guard for the first six games of the season. He suffered a neck injury and missed the last six games, spending the last five on IR.
Since he last played, left guard has been a revolving door. Trystan Colon replaced him initially and might have replaced Wilkinson even if he had not gotten hurt. Colon got hurt, which led to Dennis Daley starting once and then Daley was replaced by Carter O’Donnell, who started the last three weeks.
O’Donnell was replaced in the second half by Colon in the team’s 37-14 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. That might have been because of injury, because of play or simply to give Colon reps in a blowout loss.
If Wilkinson is activated this week, expect to see it in Saturday’s roster moves when the Cardinals also announced what players are elevated from the practice squad.
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