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A day after right guard Daryn Colledge left practice a nerve injury in his leg, Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians was asked about the depth the team at the position. He answered with a concern and praise all at once.
"One injury anymore and you're thin, and another one really wipes you out," he said. "I like where we're at, especially having Coop (rookie Jonathan Cooper) back in now."
He then pointed out how both Chilo Rachal and Paul Fanaika have stepped up, particularly Fanaika, who is playing right guard in the place of injured Colledge.
"[He] has really grabbed hold of his opportunity," he said. "Now he's at guard. He was tackle most of the spring. Right now he's looking really good. Those are the surprises that you'll find out when a guy gets an opportunity and gets those reps."
Fanaika is entering his fourth season in the league. He has played in only three games, all in 2011 with the Seattle Seahawks. He went to college at ASU, making wo. him one of two other former Sun Devils trying to make the team. Receiver Kerry Taylor and linebacker Colin Parker are the other two.
At the surface, if Colledge can come back before the season, it would like Fanaika would be a long shot to make the roster, especially with the team having drafted two guards this year. And his being ahead of the younger players simply could be because he knows more about being in the league. But, in his fourth year, maybe he will be "one of those surprises."
More from Revenge of the Birds:
- NFL training camp: Drew Stanton sometimes is Carson Palmer's filter
- NFL training camp: Bruce Arians unhappy with Arizona Cardinals offensive line
- Arizona Cardinals rookie Jonathan Cooper still a starter despite holdout, is 'better than advertised'
- NFL training camp 2013: Ryan Lindley making progress, compared to Kelly Holcomb
- NFL Network covering Arizona Cardinals training camp Tuesday
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