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PHOENIX (AP) A knee injury to quarterback Drew Stanton could clear the way for Blaine Gabbert to make his debut for the Arizona Cardinals.

Stanton sprained a knee early in Thursday night’s 22-16 loss to Seattle. He gutted it out the rest of the game but it’s not known whether he will be able to go on Sunday against the Texans in Houston.

After four days off <a title="Nick Boyle Jersey" href="http://www.baltimoreravensteamonlines.com/nick-boyle-jersey">Nick Boyle Jersey</a> , the Cardinals regrouped Tuesday and coach Bruce Arians wasn’t forthcoming about Stanton’s status, except to say that he practiced. Whether he was limited wasn’t known because no injury report is required until Wednesday.

Arians, who has been with Stanton for six seasons, said the quarterback’s toughness is ”at the top of the chart.”

”This isn’t the first time I’ve seen him gut it up like that,” Arians said. ”But, yeah, he’s off the charts. That’s why his teammates love him.”

Arians said the knee problem affected Stanton ”on two or three throws. The one to John Brown, especially <a title="Terrance West Jersey" href="http://www.baltimoreravensteamonlines.com/terrance-west-jersey">Terrance West Jersey</a> , it gave out on him. That is the one that we’d all like to have back. There was maybe one or two others.”

Stanton has started two games since Carson Palmer was lost for the season with a broken left arm, a win at San Francisco and a loss to the Seahawks. He is 7-4 as a starter in his five seasons with Arizona.

Gabbert was signed in the offseason. Immediate speculation was that he would battle Stanton for the backup quarterback spot. But Stanton, who is extremely close to Arians, had that job sewn up from the start and Gabbert was relegated to third string.

Last Thursday night was the first time this season that Gabbert was suited up for a game, serving as Stanton’s backup.

With Stanton’s uncertain status, the reps are increasing for Gabbert this week.

”He got a bunch last week, but he’ll get more this week,” Arians said. ”We’ll try to get Matt (Barkley) something along the lines.”

The Cardinals signed Barkley on Monday to add another quarterback to the mix.

Barkley came to Arizona in a trade at the end of the 2015 preseason. He was with the team all season but never was active on game day. He was released by Arizona at the end of the 2016 preseason.

Barkley played in seven games for Chicago last season <a title="Mike Wallace Jersey" href="http://www.baltimoreravensteamonlines.com/mike-wallace-jersey">Mike Wallace Jersey</a> , six as a starter, completing 59 percent of his passes for eight touchdowns and 14 interceptions. He was with San Francisco this preseason but it.”

Gabbert, a former first-round draft pick, has a 9-31 record in 40 career starts in his previous six seasons with Jacksonville and San Francisco.