Lyle

Sendlein

The injury will require surgery. Sendlein is hardly a dominant center, but this is just another big loss to a terrible Cardinals offensive line that can’t afford it. Signed to a new five-year, $16.25 million deal two offseasons ago, Sendlein had not missed a start since 2007, his rookie season.

The Cardinals’ starting center since 2008, Sendlein was cut in a salary-cap move early last month. Now 31, Sendlein is also coming off a dreadful year, but he’ll be welcomed back if he returns at the Cardinals’ price. A.Q. Shipley and OG Ted Larsen will apparently battle for starting duties if Sendlein moves on.

He’s sitting out Saturday’s preseason opener. Week to week, Sendlein is ultimately expected to be ready for Week 1.

Ted Larsen will handle pivot duties while he’s out. If Sendlein’s injury lingers into the season, second-year LG Jonathan Cooper has experience at center. Paul Fanaika and Earl Watford could then man the guard spots. Sendlein is a strong run blocker and has started all 16 games in five of the past six seasons.

Sendlein, 31, has been Arizona’s starting center for the last seven years. He fell off the cliff in 2014, grading out 40th among 41 qualified centers in PFF’s grades. The Cards are desperate at center after A.Q. Shipley and Ted Larsen failed to lock down the job early in camp. For all the improvements Arizona has made on the O-Line, they remain dangerously shaky at the pivot position.

The plan is for the Cardinals to sign Sendlein as long as he checks all the boxes medically. The 31-year-old has been Arizona’s starting center since 2008, but was released in March with the team wanting to go a different direction at the pivot spot. A.Q. Shipley and Ted Larsen have obviously disappointed at camp.

The Cardinals tried to move on from Sendlein after he had a woeful 2014, but re-signed him after A.Q. Shipley and Ted Larsen both bombed at the pivot. Now 31, Sendlein shouldn’t have much job security.

After grading out 40th among 41 qualifying centers in Pro Football Focus’ 2014 grades -- only St. Louis’ Scott Wells was lower -- Sendlein was owed a $3 million base salary, all of which will now come off the Cardinals’ books. The Cards may turn to A.Q. Shipley as a short-term solution to start at center.

Sendlein didn’t miss a snap in Sunday’s win over the Browns, suggesting he’ll be ready to go following the Cardinals’ Week 9 bye.

Sendlein was one of the league’s worst centers this season, getting blown off the ball in both the pass and run game. Two months shy of his 32nd birthday, Sendlein has been the Cardinals’ center since 2008, but if he’s back, it sounds like it will be as a reserve.