Arizona Cardinals

Back from injury, Cardinals' Cooper loses starting RG job to Larsen

Published Dec. 2, 2015 6:55 p.m. ET

foxsports

Arizona Cardinals right guard Jonathan Cooper is ready to return to the lineup, but he won't reclaim his starting job.

Coach Bruce Arians on Wednesday said that Ted Larsen has moved ahead of 2013 first-round draft pick Cooper, who missed the past two games due to a knee injury.

"Ted's playing better," said Arians, adding that benching Cooper was not an permanent indictment of the third-year guard's future.

“When you look at the offensive linemen coming out of college today, it’s going to take them awhile to get at this level,” Arians said. “(Jonathan) is tough, he’s athletic, he’s continuing to grow. Right now, we don’t have time for the growth. Teddy has more experience and he’s playing better."

Larsen, a six-year veteran who is in his second season with Arizona, started the first three games this season at left guard while Mike Iupati was sidelined with a knee injury.