CARDINALS

at work up close. This is, Humphries reminds people, a player who has been to four Pro Bowls. But injuries have kept Humphries and Iupati from playing together much, and Humphries loves what he’s seeing.

While Iupati is a quiet guy who rarely says much, Humphries said he’s seen the big guard explode with emotion on the field this preseason.

“I can look over and see that dude pumped about whoopin’ somebody, seeing

him beating his chest for the first time on the grass, with me beside him, it gives me chills,” Humphries said. “It’s a scary feeling to see that dude — as calm, cool and collected as he is (normally) — out of his mind on the field. The first time I’ve ever seen him like that.”

The first team’s offensive line play probably has been the most impressive thing about the Cardinals in their first two preseason games. Newcomers Justin Pugh and Andre Smith are at right guard and right tackle, respectively. Starting center A.Q. Shipley

went down with a seasonending knee injury before the first preseason game, but rookie Mason Cole has filled in well.

Iupati calls “awesome.”

“We’re doing good, just communicating with each other and having fun,” he said.

Wilks calls the offensive line the strength of the team.

“I think they’ve proven that the way they performed in the first two games, particularly the Ones, coming off the ball and creating a new line of scrimmage,” he said. “I think they’ve accepted the challenge and they’ve taken a lot of pride in that.”

Iupati, 31, is entering his ninth NFL season.

The first five were with San Francisco, where he was a first-round draft pick — the 17th selection overall — out of Idaho in 2010. He started 75 regularseason games and eight postseason contests for the 49ers before signing as a free agent with the Cardinals in 2015.

He has said he wants to play in the league for 10 years and he’s showing lately that he still can be an elite blocker.

As usual, his reaction came in just a few words.

“I’m doing it for my family and my teammates,” he said. “I’m just out there working to get better.” the line