Arizona Cardinals place backup QB Colt McCoy on injured reserve, promote Trace McSorley

Colt McCoy’s sore throwing arm is no longer an issue, but the Cardinals' backup quarterback has landed on injured reserve.

McCoy will miss at least the first four weeks of the season upon being placed on IR on Wednesday because of a calf strain. Trace McSorley has been promoted from the practice squad and will now be the primary backup to starter Kyler Murray in the season opener against the visiting Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.

According to coach Kliff Kingsbury, McCoy hurt his calf at practice on Monday, which happened to be McCoy’s birthday.

“It’s unfortunate starting the week off on a downer with somebody getting hurt, obviously somebody you care about,” Murray said. “On his birthday, that’s tough. But Trace is good. Trace is obviously ready to go.

Not taking chance chances, the Cardinals on Monday also signed quarterback Jarrett Guarantano to the 16-man practice squad along with free-agent cornerback Corey Ballentine. In a corresponding move, the team released wide receiver Jontre Kirklin from the practice squad.

“It’s unfortunate,” Kingsbury said of McCoy’s injury. “But we’ll get Trace going and keep it going.”

McCoy, 36, was battling arm fatigue toward the end of training camp. He did not play a down during the preseason. McSorley, 27, started all three preseason games for Arizona. Guarantano, 24, appeared in all three preseason games but was released when the Cardinals announced their final roster cuts.

Ballentine, 26, comes to the Cardinals after spending the preseason with the Falcons. A sixth-round pick by the Giants in 2019 out of Washburn, Ballentine spent the 2020 season with the Jets and last season with the Lions. In 32 career NFL games, he has 46 tackles and two passes defended in addition to 35 kickoff returns for 855 yards.

Injury report

The first official injury report was released Wednesday afternoon and the Cardinals had nine players on it.

Defensive end J.J. Watt (calf strain), outside linebacker Markus Golden (toe), cornerback Travon Mullen Jr. (toe) and center Rodney Hudson (rest) did not practice. Listed as limited were tight end Zach Ertz (calf strain), left guard Justin Pugh (neck), inside linebacker Ezekiel Turner (shoulder), running back Jonathan Ward (shoulder) and long snapper Aaron Brewer (ankle).

Kingsbury said Ertz is improving but remains a game-time decision.

“We’re hoping we can get something out of him,” Kingsbury said. “I don’t know how much he’ll play. We’ll be smart either way on Sunday, but he looked better today.”

As for Watt, Kingsbury said, “Hopefully, he’ll be ready by Sunday.”

No players missed practice or were limited for the Chiefs.

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No preseason, no problem

Murray didn’t play at all during the preseason but is confident he’ll be able to operate the Cardinals’ offense smoothly Sunday against the Chiefs.

“You can’t really put a price tag on the game reps, everybody being live and getting hit and stuff like that,” he said. “But it’s Year 4 for me. I’ve played enough football to where I feel good enough, I feel comfortable enough with what we do and how I’ve got to move around on the field.

“If this was my first year playing, I feel like yeah, I’d probably be out there in the preseason. But I don’t think the risk-reward, it’s not there. I feel good. I feel ready to go.”

Captains named

The team named eight captains, according to Kingsbury.

They are Murray, center Rodney Hudson, left tackle D.J. Humphries, defensive end J.J. Watt, running back James Conner, safeties Budda Baker and Jalen Thompson and outside linebacker/special teams standout Dennis Gardeck.

It’s the third straight year the “C” has been given to Murray, Humphries, Baker and Gardeck. Hudson and Watt were also named captains last season. It’s the first such honor for Conner and Thompson in Arizona.

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‘Football doesn’t define me’

Kingsbury is entering his fourth season as an NFL head coach and someone asked him Wednesday if he feels like a veteran coach or a coach still trying to prove himself.

“No, I’m pretty … Uh, how would it put it? Football doesn’t define me,” he said. “It’s more like each year I want to see our roster and try to maximize what we have. That’s how I’ve always viewed it. Even Year 1, it was like, ‘I’m a fired college coach. Hey, I’m going to work hard, try to maximize our personnel and see how good we can be.’

“So, that’s what I try to do. I don’t look at it as a veteran. I just look at each year as a new challenge and you learn from the previous year and try to be better for your team moving forward.”

Asked what he thinks defines him, Kingsbury said, “Just how I treat people. I’d rather be a good person than a good coach. That’s always been my philosophy and hopefully most of the people that I’ve dealt with and if you talk to them, that’s how they see me.”

Larry joins ESPN

Former Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald is joining ESPN as a studio analyst, the network announced Wednesday.

Fitzgerald's first appearance on the network will be on "Monday Night Countdown," the network's pregame show before the Denver Broncos take on the Seattle Seahawks.

On "Countdown," Fitzgerald will join host Suzy Kolber, with analysts Steve Young, Robert Griffin III and Booger McFarland. He will also appear on multiple telecasts throughout the season.

“I’m elated to have the opportunity to work on the pre-game show with such a highly regarded team and network,” Fitzgerald said in a statement. “I hope to bring a unique perspective on the game that fans will enjoy.”

Have an opinion on the Arizona Cardinals? Reach McManaman at bob.mcmanaman@arizonarepublic.com and follow him on Twitter @azbobbymac. Listen to him live on Fox Sports 910-AM every Tuesday afternoon at 3:30 on Calling All Sports with Roc and Manuch. 

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Cardinals' Colt McCoy on IR, Trace McSorley promoted from practice squad