Marcus

Gilbert

Pittsburgh’s second-round pick in the 2011 draft, Gilbert never played a single down with the Cardinals the past two years since injuries took their toll. He walks away with 4,628 career snaps across seven seasons with the Steelers, morphing his body in that time to slide over as an uber effective right tackle. The Cardinals will likely address his absence via the draft.

Gilbert was already on the active/NFI list with an “illness,” though coach Kliff Kingsbury had deemed Gilbert’s absence an “extended physical.” It’s unclear if his illness was COVID-19. Gilbert was in the running for right tackle duties, though he was a complete wild card after missing all of 2019 with a torn ACL. There is now immense pressure on third-round rookie Josh Jones to nail down starting duties opposite LT D.J. Humphries. Justin Murray is Plan B. Now 32, the odds are beginning to look long Gilbert will ever play another NFL snap.

Gilbert was placed on the active/NFI list along with Maxx Williams. Williams only caught 15 passes in 2019 but had a chance of securing the starting job with Charles Clay no longer a Cardinal. Gilbert was unlikely to start but the 32-year-old could add much-needed depth to a weak Arizona line.

The ex-Steeler was with the Cardinals in 2019 but missed the entire season with a torn ACL. Gilbert’s 2018 in Pittsburgh was plagued by injury and suspension. Gilbert turned 32 last month. All of that is the long way of saying Gilbert probably should not be in the starting mix, but the Cards have one of the league’s weakest tackle groups. At worst, Gilbert will be an experienced swing option.

It’s the last thing the Cardinals’ shaky offensive line needed, though Gilbert appeared in only five games for the Steelers last season thanks to injury/suspension before the Cardinals acquired him for a sixth-round pick. Ex-Bills starter Jordan Mills was signed on Tuesday and will probably slide directly into Gilbert’s spot. Waiver claim Justin Murray did not fare well during Gilbert’s Week 1 absence.

Gilbert will be sidelined multiple games after injuring his knee in practice last week. His presence was missed in Sunday’s tie, with the Cardinals giving up five sacks.Justin Murray should make another spot start in his place.

Coach Kliff Kingsbury said Gilbert “got banged up” at Thursday’s practice. It’s not clear if he needs and MRI, but he’ll miss at least this week. Justin Murray and Brett Toth are candidates to start for Gilbert.

Gilbert is a quality right tackle, but he played just five games last season because of a knee injury and served a suspension the year before. He has not played 16 games since 2015. That said, he is only 31 and is owed a reasonable $4.865 million in 2019, the final year of his deal. If Gilbert can stay on the field, the Cardinals are getting a steal.

Gilbert ended last season on injured reserve with a knee issue and has just one year left on his contract. The 31-year-old already tweeted he’s onto the “next chapter” Friday morning, so one way or another Gilbert appears to be done in Pittsburgh. Releasing Gilbert would clear over $4.9 million against the cap.

This rules out any chance Gilbert had at returning for the playoffs. Matt Feiler will close out 2018 as the Steelers’ right tackle.