Jonathan

Cooper

The Silver and Black needed to clear a roster spot for Richie Incognito. Ex-Cardinals first-rounder Cooper was a healthy scratch for both Weeks 1 and 2.

Cooper was released by the Niners last September before landing with Washington as a late-season addition. Recovering from a torn biceps procedure in the offseason, Cooper is merely much-needed depth following OG Richie Cognito’s two-game suspension.

He will miss the rest of the season. It is yet another blow to an offensive line which had already lost Brandon Scherff and Shawn Lauvao to season-ending injuries. Luke Bowanko filled in at left guard on Monday night.

Both have starting experience in the league. Cooper is a failed former first-round pick who got cut by San Francisco toward the end of training camp.

Cooper can play anywhere along the interior. He was a left guard at North Carolina, but Daryn Colledge started all 16 games there last season and was arguably the team’s best lineman. Arizona has a hole at right guard after Adam Snyder’s release, and Colledge hasn’t played on the right side since 2008. We’ll get a better feel for the line combination once veterans report to OTAs next week.

The Cards appear set on moving Daryn Colledge to right guard, allowing Cooper to stick at his college position. If Colledge can settle in, the Cardinals’ offensive line has a very real shot to improve on last year’s league-worst performance. Mediocrity should be their goal.

It’s an indication the Cardinals plan to keep first-round pick Jonathan Cooper at his college position of left guard, even though Cooper was running with the second-team offense Tuesday. Colledge has been a left guard throughout his career, but the Cardinals must trust he can make the transition. They could just be experimenting, of course. We might not get a clear idea of how things will shake out along the Birds’ line before training camp.

Cooper blamed the in-season weight loss on UNC running “the spread, no-huddle,” and practicing at a faster pace. He often looks light in the pants on tape, but has re-bulked up to 312. Draft insider Tony Pauline reported Thursday that some NFL teams are grading Cooper ahead of top-rated guard Chance Warmack.

Cooper has relatively short, 32-inch arms, although they are suitable for an interior lineman. This is a very strong bench total for him. Work ethic is certainly not a concern, and Cooper is helping to dispel notions that strength might be after reporting to Indy at 312 pounds and showing well on the bench.

There has been increased chatter about NFL teams grading Cooper at center rather than guard, and the 6-foot-2, 311-pound weigh-in is more along the lines of a center. Although Cooper lacks elite power as a run blocker, he’s a terrific pass protector and incredibly effective on the move. He’ll likely earn consensus first-round grades and some top-20 marks from zone-blocking clubs.