Cardinals cornerback Eric Green is out for the season with a groin injury and was placed on injured reserve Tuesday.
The Cardinals will have a new starting cornerback the rest of the season, and a new punter.
The latter wasn't entirely unexpected, but the former is a blow.
The Cards placed cornerback Eric Green on injured reserve Tuesday after Green tore his groin against San Francisco Sunday, ending Green's season. The season is also over – at least in Arizona – for punter Mike Barr, who was cut following his poor performance against the 49ers.
Veterans Tom Rouen and Mitch Berger were trying out at the Cardinals' complex Tuesday afternoon to earn the job of replacing Barr.
With reserve cornerback Michael Adams already up from the practice squad and on the active roster, the Cards filled Green's roster spot by signing defensive end Bo Schobel for a third time in three weeks. Tight end Tim Euhus was also released.
Barr struggled all season. His line-drive 36-yard punt helped allow San Francisco's Mike Lewis get off a 51-yard return Sunday, and his 17-yard kick in overtime cost the Cardinals important field position. Barr is last in the league in net average (31.7 yards a kick) and last in overall average (40.4).
Barr also served as the holder for kicker Neil Rackers, so the Cards will have to make a change there as well. Receiver Sean Morey has been listed as the backup holder.
The loss of Green is a difficult turn for a defensive backfield already missing Pro Bowl safety Adrian Wilson and key third safety Aaron Francisco. Green, who managed to miss no time after badly spraining an ankle in practice two weeks ago, said he was slinging 49ers running back Frank Gore out of bounds on a tackle Sunday when he felt a pop.
"I knew when I did it something was wrong," Green said. "I wanted to throw up. The last time I did that, I tore up my ACL, getting that throw-up feeling."
Antrel Rolle sits behind Green on the depth chart. But with Rolle thriving in the nickel/inside cornerback role and still struggling when lined up outside, it is unclear whether coach Ken Whisenhunt will elevate Rolle or keep Rolle in place and use someone like veteran Ralph Brown to replace Green.
Francisco already said he wasn't sure he could play this week with his ailing calf. And Wilson, who went to Miami Tuesday to get another opinion on his bad heel/Achilles, said Monday he didn't feel close to returning.
"You look at the injuries, we have taken a big shot," Green said. "Chike (Okeafor), Bertrand Berry, Adrian has been out for a while, me. All starters. It tells a lot about your team if you can still win when you are missing so many guys." * * * Contact Darren Urban at askdarren@cardinals.nfl.net. Posted 11/27/07
