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TEMPE, Ariz. -- The Arizona Cardinals already were having problems protecting Carson Palmer. Now they must deal with the loss of Jared Veldheer.The 6-foot-8, 321-pound left tackle is out for the season with a torn triceps, an injury that occurred in the Cardinals 30-20 loss at Carolina two weekends ago.Veldheer has been the anchor of the Arizona offensive line since he signed as a free agent in 2014 after spending his first four NFL seasons in Oakland.Palmer called Veldheer one of the best tackles in the league for a long time.His production, his professionalism, his athleticism, his power, his leadership, its irreplaceable, Palmer said Wednesday.Stepping into that considerable void Sunday, when Arizona is home against San Francisco, steps John Wetzel, an imposing figure in his own right at 6-7 and 328 pounds.But Veldheer has 88 career starts. Wetzel has one, at left guard against the New York Jets on Oct. 17 when Mike Iupati was out with an ankle injury against.Wetzel, undrafted out of Boston College in 2013, signed a rookie free agent contract with Oakland but was released before the season started. He was on the practice squads of Dallas and Indianapolis before being signed the Cardinals practice squad last Dec. 9. Wetzel made the 53-man Arizona roster as a backup this season.I feel ready, he said. It helps that I started a game already this year and played a little bit in the San Fran game. That helps a lot, just the mental aspect of getting adjusted to the speed of things. Ive still got a lot of work to do in practice coming up this week, got to get some technical stuff worked on, but by Sunday I should be pretty good.Wetzel has appeared in all eight games, mostly on special teams before his stint at guard. He played the entire second half against Carolina at tackle after Veldheer was hurt.Its really unfortunate what happened to Jared, you dont want to see that, Wetzel said, but Im looking forward to being part of the team, doing a little bit more than I was, just doing what I can to help out, get some wins.Coach Bruce Arians said hes very comfortable with Wetzels new role.Thats a more comfortable spot for him (than guard), and hes tough and smart, Arians said. Will he get beat? Probably now and then. They all do -- Jared did too -- but hell do fine.Wetzel agreed tackle is his best position.Ive played it more, Ive got more experience, he said. Really I only first started playing guard when I was in Dallas due to injuries, played a little bit one preseason game and thats about it.Palmer voiced confidence in Wetzel.Wetz is ready, Wetz is excited, Palmer said. When I talk about guys being here (during the bye weekend), Wetz was around, watching film, studying, working on his technique. Hes a physical specimen, so I dont think hell be one of those guys that has that kind of deer-in-the-headlights look.Its a second change on the line this season. Earl Watford is at right guard after Evan Mathis, a free agent signee in the offseason -- was lost for the season with an ankle injury at San Francisco on Oct. 6.Palmer threw for a season-high 363 yards against Carolina but was sacked a season-worst eight times.It was really the two interior guys (Iupati and Watford) whod been there, Arians said. So yeah, theyve got to protect the quarterback better and then block for the running game. The challenge never changes. Theyve got to block.The Cardinals have allowed 25 sacks this season. Only Indianapolis (30) and Cleveland (26) have given up more. Arizonas allowed 60 quarterback hits, fifth-most in the league.Wednesday was a veterans day off for Palmer. The 36-year-old quarterback said that his 14 NFL seasons have made him appreciate the extra rest.I was a gym rat for so long, he said. I want every rep and Im greedy with every rep, but Ive learned to understand the importance of recovery and rest and sleep and all those things. I understand how important it is for feeling great Sunday.Game notesAsked if he was ready to declare defensive back Tyrann Mathieu (shoulder) out for the 49er game, Arians said not yet. ... Mathieu and cornerback Tharold Simon (ankle) did not practice. ... Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (ankle) was among five players that were limited.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFLFake Vapormax 2 . Rousey will put her perfect 8-0 record and hardware on the line against another undefeated fighter, 7-0 Sara McMann in the main event of UFC 170, which will be held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas Nevada on February 22nd. Cheap Vapormax 2 China . Anthony Calvillo, through 20 CFL seasons, was frequently invincible and largely stoic in the heat of competition. But underneath the professional exterior he was, and is, compellingly human. http://www.clearancevapormax.com/cheap-vapormax-2-clearance.html . Only three players drafted by NHL clubs were included on the Czech selection camp roster on Wednesday. Those players were Dallas Stars 2012 first-rounder Radek Faksa, Winnipeg Jets 2013 fourth-rounder Jan Kostalek and Phoenix Coyotes 2012 seventh-rounder Marek Langhamer. Wholesale Vapormax 3 . -- Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Farmar will be out for roughly four weeks after tearing his left hamstring. Fake Vapormax 3 . Thats not a comment on the suspension that banished the Portland Winterhawks general manager and coach from his Western Hockey League teams bench for most of the 2012-13 season.The San Antonio Spurs will retire the No. 21 jersey of future Hall of Famer Tim Duncan on Dec. 18, the team announced Wednesday.A veteran of 19 NBA seasons -- all with the Spurs -- Duncan retired in July with five NBA titles, two NBA MVP awards, 15 All--Star appearances and a spot on many lists as the greatest power forward of all time.He also partnered with Gregg Popovich to post the most wins by a player and coach in NBA history, with 1,001.?After drafting Duncan in 1997, the Spurs posted a 1,072-438 regular-season record -- the best 19-year stretch in NBA history and tops in the four major U.S. sports in that period.A four-year star at Wake Forest, Duncan was the No. 1 pick by the Spurs in the 1997 draft. He made an immediate impact, winning the NBA Rookie of the Year award and earning All-NBA First-Team honors, the first of 10 selections in his career. He led the Spurs to a championship in his second seasson, in 1998-99, and was named Finals MVP.ddddddddddddHe would go on to win four more titles, in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2014, and he was named Finals MVP twice more, in 2003 and 2005. San Antonio posted a win percentage of at least .600 in 19 straight seasons with Duncan, the longest such run in NBA history.Duncan finishes his career with averages of 19.0 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.2 blocks per game. He ranks 14th all time in points (26,496), sixth in rebounds (15,091) and fifth in blocks (3,020).Duncan made the NBA All‐Defensive First Team eight times. He is only the third player in NBA history to win 1,000 career regular-season games. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Robert Parish are the only players with more career victories.The Associated Press contributed to this report. 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