OLBs Markus Golden and Devon Kennard are keys to the Arizona Cardinals, although their status Sunday is in question

Even Vance Joseph couldn’t escape the rocky offseason for the Cardinals’ defense, with him still sporting a brace on his right forearm – it had been a cast in training camp – after a summer injury.

Of course, it’s a lot easier to draw up and call plays when you are banged up than trying to play, and the Cardinals defensive coordinator is well aware he has some spots in question going into the season opener against the Chiefs and quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

“It’s always injuries, it’s always issues,” Joseph said Thursday. “You have to adjust, you have to coach.”

The Cardinals don’t have cornerback Antonio Hamilton There is a good chance they won’t have cornerback Trayvon Mullen or defensive end J.J. Watt.

But perhaps the most curious situation is that at outside linebacker, where the two guys who came into training camp as the presumed starters – Markus Golden and Devon Kennard – are questions.

Golden, the team’s sack leader with 11 from a season ago, returned to the practice field on Thursday for the first time since Aug. 1. Kennard was released and brought back to the practice squad, although the conversation around the veteran certainly makes it sound like he will have a role on Sundays, against the Chiefs and beyond.

“Kennard has been a guy for us for years and plays hard for us every play,” Pro Bowl safety Budda Baker said. “Yeah he’s on the P-Squad but hopefully we’ll see him on the active roster once game day comes.

“And Markus Golden, no one really talks about him, but he gets 10-plus sacks every year. That’s a guy I was excited to see him practice, see (jersey No.) 4-4 running around, but a guy who will bring a lot of intensity each and every play, lead by example and lead by his voice. ‘Junk’ is my guy. Both those guys are my guys.”