After an injury-free opening to training camp, the injury bug finally bit the Arizona Cardinals. Not one player had missed any practice time, but on Saturday Adrian Wilson hurt his arm, at least partially tearing his biceps muscle. Veteran cornerback Michael Adams also experienced some swelling in his knee. He was held out of Saturday's practice as a precaution.
Then on Sunday, Adams tweeted that he was having knee surgery.
The procedure was a scope and he should miss only a little bit of time. His injury does very little, though, to the cornerback position.
With the drafting of Patrick Peterson, the acquisition of Richard Marshall and the emergence of A.J. Jefferson, Adams looks like he would be the fifth corner on the depth chart. Yes, he is an important special teams player, but at least for now it appears that he will not see time in defensive coverage.
Last season, the team regularly kept four corners on the active roster -- DRC, Greg Toler, Adams and Trumaine McBride. Marshay Green and Jefferson were on the roster at times.
Typically, only three got defensive reps. Barring other injuries, those three will be Marshall, Toler and either Peterson or Jefferson.
If Adams has to lose any time in the regular season, Marshay Green is a capable special teams player, but he is inexperienced.
While it is hopeful he returns quickly, his injury is not one that will impact the team much, something that is a welcome change -- not because Adams is a bad guy, but because his role is best on special teams and not having to be used in coverage, where he struggled a season ago.
That alone should give fans comfort in the team's defense this year. While unproven still, the talent level at corner is indisputably better than in 2010.