76 Mike Iupati G

Iupati logged 25 offensive snaps during Friday's preseason game against the Saints.

Iupati looks to be fully past the triceps injury that landed him on injured reserve last season. The veteran lineman is fully expected to reassume a starting job at guard in 2018.

The Cardinals and Iupati (triceps) agreed to restructure his contract, Field Yates of ESPN reports.

Iupati landed a five-year, $40 million contract with the Cards during the 2015 offseason, but his health has been an issue in each of the last three seasons. After missing four games combined in those first two campaigns, he injured his triceps Week 1 of last season and didn't log another snap once he opted to undergo surgery to repair a bone spur. Due the lack of reps, general manager Steve Keim likely was reticent to devote $8 million to Iupati in 2018, so the two sides agreed to reduce that number to $5 million in order to suit up as the starting left guard.

The Cardinals placed Iupati (tricps) on injured reserve Saturday, Darren Urban of the team's official website reports.

This move comes as no surprise, as coach Bruce Arians announced Friday that Iupati would need to undergo surgery on his elbow to repair a bone spur. It was quite the turn of events, as the guard indicated a few days earlier that there was "100 percent chance" he would start this week. The injury is expected to keep him sidelined roughly eight weeks, which is around the time he will be eligible to returne from the IR-R.

Iupati (triceps) has been ruled out for Sunday's matchup against the Niners by head coach Bruce Arians, as he is expected to undergo surgery on his elbow to repair a bone spur, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN reports.

Iupati has been sidelined since going down in the Cardinals season opening loss at the hands of the Lions. The veteran guard indicated Monday there was a "100 percent chance" he would start this week, but that was clearly overly optimistic. He will presumably land on the injured reserve eligible to return list, and be sidelined eight weeks.

Although Iupati (tricps) was limited at Wednesday's practice, he indicated there is a "100 percent chance he starts" in the contest, Kyle Odegard of the Cardinals' official website reports.

Iupati's optimism is certainly encouraging, but until he logs a full practice his status is still in question. Alex Boone would be in line to notch another start at left guard should the 30-year-old ultimately not be able to go.