Arizona Cardinals lose A.Q Shipley for the year

The reality of football is that injuries happen all the time.

It is a violent sport, a violent game that leads to a number of different injuries that happen at any time and anywhere on the field.

That has plagued the Arizona Cardinals the last two seasons, especially along the offensive line.

The one constant the last two seasons has been center A.Q. Shipley, who was the only player to start all 32 games during that time frame.

Now, the bad luck of injuries has caught up to the starting center, as Arizona Cardinals Head Coach Steve Wilks announced that the starting center will be out of the season:

The 32 year old Shipley has battled for the opportunity to start in the NFL, after being drafted in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft, Shipley would not find an NFL home until 2012 with the Indianapolis Colts and offensive coordinator Bruce Arians. He started five games at center in 2012 for Arians and the Colts, before moving to Baltimore in 2013, where he started nine games at left guard.

In 2014, Shipley would head back to Indy, starting five games for the Colts.

In 2015, the Cardinals signed Shipley to a two-year deal worth just over $1.5 million with performance and incentives, but he would only start three games as the team decided to bring veteran Lyle Sendlein back.

No, it wouldn’t be until age 30, that Shipley would get the chance to be the man for a team at the center position.

In 2016 and 2017, Shipley would be the only constant, working above and beyond his measured ability and winning over teammates and coaches alike with his approach, demeanor and understanding of the game.

He came into the season, knowing the Cardinals had drafted his successor in Mason Cole, but also realizing that he would not relinquish the job.

Now, with the injury, it will be Mason Cole’s time.

Here is to a quick recovery for Shipley and continued success moving forward.