The Arizona Cardinals had a freak accident in the cornerback room when projected starter Antonio Hamilton suffered serious burns in a cooking incident.
Hamilton fortunately avoided any major long-term health complications but was placed on the NFI, putting him out at least the first four games of the season.
Following Sunday’s game with the Carolina Panthers, Hamilton is technically eligible to return by rule. However, Kliff Kingsbury didn’t sound overly optimistic that he would be available for Week 5’s contest with the Philadelphia Eagles.
“He’s moving around good,” he said Wednesday after practice. “Next week maybe a little aggressive, but we’re hopeful. I think we’ve got to get him out there to see what he’s retained as far as the football stuff, see how he moves around and make sure he is comfortable, but he looks good in his in his rehab.”
Hamilton posted videos on social media of him going through defensive back drills and looked to be in good shape. The Cardinals could use Hamilton back on the field sooner rather than later, as he was the projected No. 2 cornerback before his injury.
Having Hamilton in the fold allows the Cardinals to move Byron Murphy around in the slot and feel comfortable with their two outside corners in Hamilton and Marco Wilson.
The Cardinals could be looking at serious reinforcements in the following weeks with the return of DeAndre Hopkins, Rondale Moore and Hamilton.
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