Jonathan Cooper's rookie season with the Arizona Cardinals is a complete loss.
Cooper, the seventh overall pick in April's draft, was moved to season-ending injured reserve Friday, six days after he suffered a broken leg in preseason action.
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Cooper had surgery to repair the leg Monday. That same day, Cardinals coach Bruce Arians put the guard on a 10- to 12-week timetable, leaving the window open that Cooper could return for the season's final six games.
"The chances of him coming back and getting into football shape weren't as realistic as we hoped for," Arians said Friday, via the team's official website.
The Cardinals' decision ends any thought of Cooper returning in 2013 while freeing up a roster spot as the team trims its roster to 53 players before Saturday's deadline.
Don't sleep on the effect that Cooper's absence can have on the Cardinals' chances of contention in the NFC West this season. The offensive line was a major problem area last season, and Cooper was brought aboard as a major piece to help remedy that.
Now they're back to square one.
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