Cardinals guard Mike Iupati will probably be placed on injured reserve.
The Cardinals' offensive line troubles just won't fade.
Left guard Mike Iupati, who hasn't played since the opener, needs surgery to repair a bone spur in his elbow, and will likely be put on injured reserve, coach Bruce Arians said Friday. Fellow guard Alex Boone, who had replaced Iupati, is out "probably two weeks" with a pectoral injury.
Arians said Iupati's bone spur broke off and is cutting his tendon. Iupati tried to play with it.
The Cards had hoped to get left tackle D.J. Humphries (knee) back for Sunday's game, but Arians couldn't commit to that, saying only "we'll see."
If Humphries cannot go, the Cardinals are dangerously low on experienced linemen for the left
side. John Wetzel can (and will) play either guard or tackle. Beyond that, the Cardinals are down to rookie Will Holden – a natural tackle who has played guard in the preseason, and whom Arians had named earlier as the third tackle choice behind Humphries and Wetzel – and center/guard Daniel Munyer.
"Whoever is out there, we just have to work every week," Wetzel said. "We have a lot to improve on in general."
The Cardinals will probably make a roster move before the game, Arians said. They have tackle Vinston Painter – who has played in the NFL – and rookie guard Dorian Johnson on the practice squad.
Jared Veldheer will continue to start at right tackle, with Evan Boehm at right guard and A.Q. Shipley at center.
"They just have to step up and play," Arians said. "We always believe in the next man. That's no bull. That's the real thing. Your job is that you're the starter. Play like one."
Defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche, who aggravated his calf injury in practice Thursday, has also been ruled out of Sunday's game.
On a positive note, Arians said both linebacker Deone Bucannon (ankle) and wide receiver John Brown (quad) are going to play Sunday. Bucannon will be making his season debut. Brown has not played since the opener.
Images from past matchups between the Cardinals and this week's opponent, the San Francisco 49ers
1978: Cardinals CB Roger Wehrli defends a pass to 49ers TE Paul Seal
1978: Cardinals LB Scott Williams tackles 49ers QB Scott Bull
1979: 49ers QB Joe Montana
1986: Cardinals QB Cliff Stoudt
1987: 49ers RB Roger Craig runs the ball as CB Ken Sims dives for the tackle
1991: Cardinals QB Stan Gelbaugh tries to evade 49ers DE Dennis Brown
1993: DB Chuck Cecil zeroes in on 49ers TE Brent Jones
1999: 49ers QB Jeff Garcia runs as Cardinals DL Brad Ottis tries to make the tackle
1993: Cardinals LB Eric Hill watches over the line of scrimmage
2000: Cardinals RB Thomas Jones
2002: Cardinals RB Marcel Shipp
2000: S Pat Tillman
2002: Cardinals QB Jake Plummer
2003: Cardinals K Tim Duncan celebrates a game-winning kick
2004: Cardinals RB Emmitt Smith is tackled by 49ers CB Mike Adams
2004: QB Josh McCown spikes the ball following a two-point conversion
2004: 49ers QB Tim Rattay scrambles as Cardinals DE Bertrand Berry gives chase
2005: WR Anquan Boldin gets tackled by three 49ers
2005: WR Larry Fitzgerald is upended by 49ers DB Derrick Johnson
2005: S Robert Griffith carries the Mexican flag before the game in Mexico City
2006: Cardinals WR Bryant Johnson tries to get away from 49ers CB Mike Adams
2006: Cardinals RB Edgerrin James scores a touchdown
2006: Cardinals S Antrel Rolle forces a fumble of 49ers WR Arnaz Battle
2007: 49ers Frank Gore breaks away as CB Antrel Rolle (left), LB Calvin Pace (middle) and DT Darnell Dockett pursue
2007: TE Leonard Pope catches a pass in front of DB Nate Clements
2008: Cardinals WR Steve Breaston stretches for the end zone
2009: Cardinals RB Beanie Wells scores a touchdown
2009: Cardinals LB Gerald Hayes tackles 49ers RB Frank Gore
2008: S Antrel Rolle does a backflip in the end zone
2010: WR Larry Fitzgerald scores a touchdown in front of 49ers CB Reggie Smith
2011: Cardinals S Adrian Wilson grabs a hold of 49ers RB Brian Westbrook
2011: Cardinals LB O'Brien Schofield celebrates a tackle
2012: WR Michael Floyd catches a touchdown in front of CB Chris Culliver
2012: Cardinals CB Patrick Peterson tackles 49ers WR Mario Manningham
2013: Cardinals RB Andre Ellington is tackled by 49ers S Eric Reid
2014: Cardinals WR John Brown catches a pass as 49ers CB Leon McFadden tries to bring him down
2014: Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald celebrates a first down catch
CB Justin Bethel returns an interception for a score
2015: S Tyrann Mathieu returns an interception for a touchdown
2015: WR Larry Fitzgerald stretches the ball out as he's tackled by 49ers S Jimmie Ward
2015: QB Carson Palmer spikes the ball after a rushing touchdown
2016: LB Markus Golden celebrates a sack
2016: QB Drew Stanton celebrates a touchdown pass
2016: RB David Johnson tries to get away from 49ers LB Ahmad Brooks
2016: DT Calais Campbell tries to tackle 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick
