Kevin Kolb injured: Cardinals send quarterback to injured reserve, what's next?

GLENDALE, AZ - Well it's official, Kevin Kolb has been place on injured reserve, and will not return for the Cardinals this season.

While his immediate future is set, what will the team do with the oft-injured quarterback next season and beyond? Should they keep him? Cut him? Try to trade him?

Kolb is 6-8 with 17 touchdowns to 11 interceptions as quarterback of the Cardinals. Not too bad, right? The problem is that after investing a starting cornerback, a second round pick, and a ton of money into the guy you'd expect a better return on you're investment. You'd at least expect him to only play in 14 games in two years.

Unfortunately for the Cardinals, Kolb may be as good as it gets at this point. The team is not going to go out and trade away a whole draft for a player like the Washington Redskins did to get Robert Griffin III, and unless you think Michael Vick or Alex Smith is the answer, the Cardinals look to between a rock and a hard place when it comes to the most important position in football.

The team is currently projected to get the eighth overall pick in the upcoming NFL draft (though that pick could be higher by the time the season ends), and unless they reach for a player like Geno Smith out of West Virginia there are no viable quarterbacks at that spot in the draft.

Depressing, isn't it?

What the Cardinals should do is keep Kolb, who has shown flashes in his time in Arizona, and bring in players to protect him. Reaching for a quarterback in the draft may be a mistake, but at this point if you have to reach for an offensive lineman you do it. They need to continue to develop players like Bobby Massie and Nate Potter and go out and bring in proven veteran offensive lineman.

The biggest mistake the Cardinals can make is go into next season with the offensive line in the current state it's in.

Aside from building the offensive line, the most important thing the Cardinals can do for Kolb and their future at quarterback is build a better game plan offensively.

It's tough to stay committed to the run when injuries decimate the running back position, but regardless of who's back there, there needs to be balance on offense.

In no way should a rookie sixth-round pick like Ryan Lindley be forced to throw the ball 52 times like he was asked to in the 31-17 loss to the Rams.

Maybe the Cardinals bring in a new offensive coordinator, but without balance on offense and the offensive line constructed the way it currently is, it doesn't matter who the Cardinals bring in the play quarterback because whoever it is will not be in a position to be successful.