Tempe, AZ – The Arizona Cardinals will add another member to the list of starting quarterbacks in the post-Kurt Warner era this weekend, with head coach Ken Whisenhunt announcing on Wednesday that rookie Ryan Lindley will be under center for the team's upcoming game against the St. Louis Rams.
Lindley, a sixth-round pick of this past April's draft out of San Diego State, replaced an ineffective John Skelton after one quarter of Sunday's matchup at Atlanta, and will make his first career start this week despite managing only 64 yards on 9-of-20 passing in the 23-19 loss to the Falcons.
Skelton was pulled after hitting on 2-of-7 throws for a mere six yards, and has largely struggled ever since taking over for an injured Kevin Kolb in mid- October. In five starts and one relief appearance this season, the third-year pro has thrown for only two touchdowns and been intercepted five times while completing 54.7 percent (98-of-179) of his attempts.
The Cardinals have lost each of Skelton's last four starts and six straight overall since opening the season 4-0.
Three of those victories came with Kolb, who's still at least another week away from returning from injuries sustained in a Week 6 loss to Buffalo. The 28-year-old suffered multiple detached ribs as well as a sprained shoulder after having two Bills players land on him during a running play.
Lindley will be Arizona's fifth different starting signal-caller since Warner retired following the 2009 season, and the Cardinals have gone just 17-25 over that span after reaching the Super Bowl in 2008 and capturing the NFC West the following year.
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