The Cardinals placed two players on injured reserve with groin injuries on October 4 and said there was hope that either of them could become their player designated to return to action later in the regular season.
The team made its choice this week and it is safety Tyvon Branch. He’ll practice on Wednesday and be eligible to play for the team in Week 13.
With Branch designated for return, the Cardinals won’t be getting running back Chris Johnson back in the lineup this year. That makes two straight years that have ended on injured reserve for Johnson, who would have been in a backup role behind David Johnson if he did make it back to the field.
Branch figures to have a more prominent position if he gets the green light for game action. He was covering the slot before getting injured, but may play a more traditional safety role now that Tyrann Mathieu has resumed playing in that role with Branch out. Mathieu has missed the last two games with a shoulder injury, but was said to be close to returning last week.
