The Arizona Cardinals have re-signed a bunch of players from the offseason. One notable player who is still a free agent is center A.Q. Shipley. He is one of very few offensive linemen from 2019 who is not again under contract.
Not long ago, head coach Kliff Kingsbury said potentially re-signing Shipley was “a work in progress.”
It appears the Cardinals are ready to move on from Shipley and give Mason Cole the opportunity to be the starter.
“Mason Cole started every game at center two years ago,” general manager Steve Keim said on a video conference with reporters this week. “He’s extremely smart, he’s tough but he’s really, really athletic at climbing and adjusting at the second level, so he’s a great fit for our offensive scheme.”
Last year before the season, Kingsbury said the competition between Shipley and Cole was very close but Shipley got the nod, in part because of his experience and how he could help a rookie quarterback in Kyler Murray.
Keim would not rule out a possible return of Shipley.
“Well it’s like anything else, there’re a number of guys that are free agents right now, but I wouldn’t rule anything out is all I’ll say,” he said.
If Shipley remains unsigned and Cole struggles or gets hurt, Shipley could get the call. It would be similar to 2015 when the Cardinals brought back center Lyle Sendlein in training camp in 2015. He had been cut in March but Bruce Arians, then the head coach, wasn’t confident enough in Shipley or Ted Larsen. Sendlein returned and the Cardinals went 13-3. Shipley took over the next season as starter and was through last season, excluding his lost season ni 2018 to a torn ACL.
The Cardinals are giving Cole the opportunity to be the guy. Kingsbury had nothing but great things to say about him all last year.
Shipley could return, but it only will be in case of injury or ineffectiveness.
[vertical-gallery id=435886]
Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.
Ep. 264
[protected-iframe id=”b8298580b0556a34b31c8547e1eb9674-112738498-106269283″ info=”https://api.spreaker.com/v2/episodes/25551206/download.mp3″ ]
Ep. 263
[protected-iframe id=”dca5b47e417710c1f0ab60fb92d377da-112738498-106269283″ info=”https://api.spreaker.com/v2/episodes/25001898/download.mp3″ ]