Lamont Gaillard started 42 games straight in college, beginning as a sophomore at the University of Georgia and going up through the Sugar Bowl his senior year. So it was quite an adjustment to not play a single snap in 2019. 

“It felt kind of strange at first, but I learned a lot from the vets,” Gaillard said Thursday. 

He went 621 days without playing in a game, but that streak snapped Sunday. A sixth-round draft pick in 2019, Gaillard saw his first NFL game action against the 49ers, stepping in at center for Mason Cole. Cole left the game early in the third quarter with a hamstring injury, and Gaillard finished the job from there.

In his rookie campaign, Gaillard missed four games with a knee injury, was a healthy scratch 10 times, and did not see the field in the other two contests. Gaillard said he saw a few things on film to fix, and acknowledged “a lot of jitters” at the very start, stepping quickly and against the 49ers defensive line. But his performance did not surprise coach Kliff Kingsbury. 

“Very impressive, and that’s how he’s been,” Kingsbury said Wednesday. “He’s a very confident young man. He believes he could start anywhere and could be playing anywhere, and he prepares that way.”

Quarterback Kyler Murray was credited with 91 yards on the ground, as the Cardinals combined for 180 rushing yards, and 124 of those in the second half. The offensive line held up well, protecting Murray as he raced around. 

They’ll need to repeat that performance: Next up is Washington, which had eight sacks in its opening win over the Eagles. 

Cole did not practice Wednesday or Thursday, but Murray expressed confidence in whichever young center starts. 

“I’ve got full faith in both of those guys,” Murray said Wednesday. “Obviously, it was unfortunate that Mason goes down, but this is a next-man-up-type of mentality. When he goes down, Lamont’s got to come in and do his job just as well. And I think he did a great job.”

Murray spent his rookie year with A.Q. Shipley starting all 16 games at center. Cole filled in some at left guard last season, but got the bulk of reps at center with Murray this training camp. Still, a lack of reps after a long hiatus did not seem to pose a problem for Gaillard. 

“I think when (Gaillard) stepped in, nobody blinked,” Kingsbury said. “I couldn’t have been more impressed by the way he handled things to lead to fourth quarter touchdown drives to seal that game in really his first meaningful playing time in the NFL. That’ll build a lot of confidence for him moving forward.”

Thompson moved to IR

The Cardinals placed safety Jalen Thompson (ankle) on injured reserve Thursday. Arizona also signed safety Curtis Riley from Pittsburgh’s practice squad. Thompson was injured during Sunday’s game, playing just two snaps on defense before having to leave the game. 

This season however, some adjustments to the injured reserve offers teams a bit more flexibility. A player going on injured reserve can to return after missing only three games.

The Cardinals also had long snapper Colin Holba for a visit, as first reported by Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. 

Injury report

Cardinals OL Mason Cole (hamstring) and TE Maxx Williams (ankle) did not participate in Thursday’s practice. LB Kylie Fitts (wrist) and OL Josh Jones (ankle) were limited.

For Washington, LB Cole Holcomb (knee) was limited. 

Reach the reporter at [email protected] or 480-356-6407. Follow her on Twitter @kfitz134.

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