Near the end of training camp, Kliff Kingsbury had said there was still a battle at backup quarterback between Brett Hundley and Chris Streveler – which raised some eyebrows.
Then Streveler was named Kyler Murray's backup Sunday, with Hundley inactive, and Kingsbury said that will be the plan for the time being.
"We really like Chris," Kingsbury said Monday, the day after the Cardinals toppled the NFC Champion 49ers in San Francisco. "We didn't know what to expect (when he arrived), watched his CFL stuff and he was running around up there, making a lot of plays. Did a nice job picking up our offense, very active player, smart player, athletic as you can see. We wanted to get him involved and we'll see where it goes."
He was involved in two snaps Sunday. One was a rushing attempt on a third-and-1 play, where he lined up in a full-house backfield behind Murray and then the group shifted so that Streveler was quarterback. Murray moved to the slot and then went in motion as Streveler took the snap and went off the left side for a three-yard rush.
His lone special teams snap came as the up back on an Andy Lee punt early in the third quarter. The punt was not fielded and downed by the Cardinals inside the 49ers' 10-yard line.
"He plays quarterback," Kingsbury said. "It's not one of those deals where he's a slash-quarterback. He's a real quarterback. We feel good about Brett as well, and we liked what Brett did last year with his opportunities. We just felt like, for now, Strev gives us a dynamic with his special teams ability and we'll have him up (as No. 2) right now."
COLE, JALEN THOMPSON BANGED UP; GAILLARD STEPS UP
Kingsbury said the Cardinals were "working through" the injuries to starting center Mason Cole (hamstring) and starting safety Jalen Thompson (ankle).
The Cardinals got solid fill-in work from backups, however. Veteran Chris Banjo came in for Thompson, who was hurt on the game's second play. Cole was replaced by Lamont Gaillard , a 2019 sixth-round pick who ended up playing 46 of the 82 offensive snaps.
"I thought Lamont did a nice job," Kingsbury said. "That's not easy, second-year player, didn't play at all last year, being at center, making all the calls and doing the things we asked him to do. He handled himself well. … I was impressed."
MASKING UP
The NFL sent out a memo Monday reminding those on the sidelines at games – including coaches -- it is a rule to wear masks during games.
When Kingsbury met with the media Monday he said he had not heard from the league "but I'm sure I will be better at keeping my mask up next week," he said.
PRACTICE SQUAD MOVE
The Cardinals signed offensive lineman Alex Light to the practice squad Monday, making room by moving safety Kentrell Brice (ankle) to the practice squad-injured reserve list.
Light spent the last two seasons with the Packers, appearing in 16 games. He was released off the Packers' practice squad last week.
Running back D.J. Foster, who was promoted from the practice squad Saturday, reverted to the practice squad. Teams are allowed up to two practice-squad callups prior to the game this year without that player having to pass through waivers to return to the practice squad.
