Arizona Cardinals center A.Q. Shipley suffered a torn ACL in his right knee during Saturday's practice, coach Steve Wilks said Monday.
"The MRI confirms that it is an ACL (injury). Very unfortunate situation for him and the team," Wilks said. "Tremendous leader, hard worker. When you talk about the DNA that I look for, (he's) a guy that loves the game. Very passionate, gritty. Really was a leader up front, and it's going to be an opportunity for others to step up that this particular time."
Wilks said Shipley's injury will be an opportunity for rookie offensive lineman Mason Cole to take the No. 1 center spot on the team. Cole was a four-year starter at Michigan and a two-time Second Team All-Big Ten selection, and he was a third-round pick by the Cardinals in the 2018 NFL Draft.
"A guy that has a proven track record to be able to come in and be successful. I'm excited about his opportunity," Wilks said of Cole.
The 6-foot-1, 310-pound Shipley has six years of NFL experience and has played for the Cardinals since 2015. He has started in 54 of the 89 NFL games in which he has played, and he started every regular-season game for the Cardinals in 2016 and '17.
On Saturday, Shipley was carted to the locker room after suffering the injury during practice. He was able to walk off the field on his own but after a brief time in an examination tent was taken to the locker room on a cart, with a towel draped over his head.
"We ran it back about 12 or 15 times and really couldn't see anything malicious or anybody that fell into his leg," Wilks said of Shipley's injury. "I think it really just got caught up in the turf. It was engaged, and he said he heard it pop."
