Kevin Kolb’s star-crossed career in Arizona has taken another hit.
The Cardinals announced Tuesday that the quarterback has rib cartilage damage and will be sidelined for “an unspecified period of time.”
Kolb, who took over when starter John Skelton went down in the opener against the Seattle Seahawks and directed the game-winning drive, had the team at 4-2 despite weak play by his offensive line that had him sacked 22 times in the past three games.
The job will revert to Skelton, who beat out Kolb in the preseason and just now is returning to health from a sprained left ankle. Skelton was active Sunday for the first time since the injury.
Kolb also has a sprained sternoclavicular joint. Known commonly as the SC joint, it connects the breastbone to the collar bone.
The damage was discovered Monday in an MRI. The exam did not show any fractures on the ribs or sternum, which would have been far more serious.
Kolb will miss Sunday’s game at Minnesota and most likely the Oct. 29 Monday night showdown at home against San Francisco.
Kolb was hurt trying to make it to the line of scrimmage on a busted play late in the 19-16 overtime loss to Buffalo on Sunday.
Skelton, a 6-foot-6, strong-armed pocket passer, is 8-4 as a starter after being drafted in the fifth round out of Fordham.
BROWNS SALE OK’D
Mike Holmgren won’t be finishing the job he went to do in Cleveland.
New Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam III said Tuesday that Holmgren was out as team president, although the Super Bowl-winning coach will remain with the franchise to help in the transition.
Haslam was introduced as the Browns’ new boss after the 32 NFL owners unanimously approved his $1 billion purchase of the team from Randy Lerner. Moments later, Haslam announced that former Eagles President Joe Banner would become chief executive officer. The move takes effect Oct. 25 when the sale is concluded.
Haslam plans no other personnel changes before 2013, meaning the jobs of coach Pat Shurmur and his staff and general manager Tom Heckert appear safe for now.
EXTRA POINTS
Matt Cassel received medical clearance Tuesday to resume non-contact drills, which effectively positions the Chiefs for a quarterback controversy as they enter the bye week. Brady Quinn started for an injured Cassel in Sunday’s 38-10 loss at Tampa Bay. … The Cowboys are expecting to be without running back DeMarco Murray (sprained foot) for Sunday’s game. Felix Jones is expected to start in Murray’s place. … The Colts have waived Chandler Harnish, the 2012 Mr. Irrelevant, so they could sign tight end Weslye Saunders. Harnish was the final draft selection in April and made the active roster but was inactive for all five games this season. … The Steelers suspended rookie nose tackle Alameda Ta’amu two games without pay Tuesday following the University of Washington alum’s arrest over the weekend following a late-night run-in with police. The fourth-round draft pick faces three felony counts. … The Eagles fired defensive coordinator Juan Castillo on Tuesday and replaced him with secondary coach Todd Bowles. … A federal magistrate judge has ordered NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to provide the court with documents related to the league’s bounty investigation of the Saints. The order came in response to suspended linebacker Jonathan Vilma’s efforts to initiate the discovery process in his defamation case against the commissioner. … The league announced that the Vikings will host the Steelers at London’s Wembley Stadium on Sept. 29, 2013. This is the first time the NFL will play two regular-season games in London in the same season. The Jaguars will host the 49ers at Wembley on Oct. 27, 2013.
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