Beanie Wells

RB Chris Wells shrugged off concerns about durability that apparently caused him to fall to the #31 pick in the NFL draft. “I missed 3 games in 3 years,” he said, “so I don’t understand the durability question. ... I played the whole 2007 season with a broken wrist.” With the release of Edgerrin James on Tuesday, the Cardinals will rely on the 1-2 punch of 2nd-year pro Tim Hightower and Wells to bolster what was the worst ground game in the league last season. HC Whisenhunt said Wells’ ability to play despite injuries was one reason he was so attractive as a 1st-round pick. “That’s something we’ll see as time goes on,” Whisenhunt said, “but I said after we drafted him that one of the things I liked about him was his toughness. He had some injuries, but he played through them. To me, that’s what the NFL is all about.” Wells dismissed a report that the bone structure in his foot made him susceptible to the type of injury that caused him to miss 3 games with OSU last season. “It was turf toe,” he said, “and I got over it.” Wells will take part in the Cardinals’ minicamp today, Saturday and Sunday, but he will not participate in the voluntary workouts in May because NFL rules require that he complete his college quarter first. His quarter at OSU ends June 13.