Famous last words.
Mike Jurecki asked about cornerback Ronald Zamort in Saturday's lunchtime presser. And if he hadn't, someone would have. Bruce Arians' reaction was swift.
"You guys keep asking about individual guys and they keep getting hurt," Arians deadpanned. "You and Josh (Weinfuss) are 2-for-2. If you get this one, you're done." (There had been previous questions about Aaron Dobson and the lack of soft tissue injuries at that point.)
Arians chuckled.
He wasn't chuckling a couple hours later, when Zamort indeed went down. At first it was scary -- Zamort wasn't moving -- but he eventually got up. We don't know what the injury was -- an update likely won't come until Monday -- but we'll see what kind of questions Arians will answer going forward. UPDATE: Kent Somers reports that Zamort tore an ACL.
As for the rest of the Red-White:
-- Elijhaa Penny is trying to find a spot on the roster. The big second-year running back wanted to clarify some of the reports about his weight -- he said he weighed 250 last season, and is now down to 236, feeling lighter on his feet -- and he spends most reps looking for contact as he runs downfield.
"I want to be the linebacker on offense," Penny said. "I want to deliver the hit instead of taking the hit. The main point is I want the offense to get the same mentality that the defense has. Hit them instead of them hitting us."
He is in a fight with a crowded backfield. "Every day, I have to treat it almost like it's game day."
-- It was interesting to watch the final three plays on the full-contact goalline scrimmage. Three straight carries for rookie T.J. Logan. Logan and fellow rookie linebacker Haason Reddick collided something fierce in the hole on the first two. On all three, Logan's helmet popped off.
-- Among the notable plays in 11-on-11 work: Patrick Peterson's tip-drill interception in the end zone, tipped by Tyvon Branch; Jaron Brown hauling in a tipped pass that had been defended well by Zamort; Larry Fitzgerald's sliding TD catch on the first play of red zone work from the 11-yard line; Krishawn Hogan's juggling catch on the sideline; and Budda Baker's nice from-behind pass breakup on Jeremy Ross.
-- LB Karlos Dansby sat out the practice with a sore knee.
-- The defenses and offenses essentially split success at the end-of-practice scrimmage plays.
-- Robert Nkemdiche was a disruptive force much of the time again. The second-unit offensive line has a hard time blocking him.
-- The crowd ended up being 25,000.
-- The Cardinals are off tomorrow and don't have another open practice to the public until Aug. 8. They play in Canton Thursday.
