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One of the reasons why the Arizona Cardinals selected guard Jonathan Cooper in 2013 with the seventh overall pick in the NFL Draft was because of his athleticism and ability to move.
Following a broken leg he suffered last preseason, he has been on the field as the first team left guard all of the offseason, but he is not all the way back.
Head coach Bruce Arians told reporters this after the team's final mini-camp practice on Thursday (via AZCardinals.com), but that it isn't of grave concern right now.
"It's obvious he's not the athlete he was last year at this time and I wouldn't expect him to be," Arians said. "He has plenty of time to get there. He's a first-round choice but far from a finished product."
It is too early worry about this right now, but what if the leg injury ends up affecting his athleticism permanently? If he is an above average guard, rather than a Pro Bowl caliber guard (we don't know exactly what he will be yet because we haven't seen him in the regular season yet), is that enough from him?
Will he be a disappointment because he was drafted so high? Or will the fact that he will likely hold his own at minimum be enough?
A broken leg for a 300-pounder who relies on strength and athleticism to excel at his position is certainly nothing to shrug off. Could this end up being something to keep an eye on a few weeks from now?
