National disaster alert: Arizona Cardinals to start D.J. Humphries at left tackle against Atlanta Falcons

Needing to replace players is standard. The good teams draft and develop competent depth to get them through the worst of injuries. Other teams have an incoming disaster when they are forced to plug in someone like D.J. Humphries. When they announce him as a starter, a tornado warning siren should blare.

It is no secret that the Arizona Cardinals are having major issues at offensive line. How bad is it?

Is Humphries, the team’s 2015 first-round draft pick, at left tackle a real possibility?

"We’ll see," offensive coordinator Harold Goodwin said. "Maybe. Maybe not. We’ll see. He’s an athletic guy. He had some flubs last week in the red zone, especially on third down. But he’s getting smarter. I don’t know what we’re going to do. We will see on Sunday."

Last Sunday, with Wetzel at left tackle, Humphries at right tackle and Taylor Boggs coming in for Mike Iupati early and then for Earl Watford late in the game, the Cardinals gave up four sacks and more than a dozen hits on Carson Palmer.

HOLY COW. That is Lamar Holmes level bad. This offensive line looks so bad it may as well be anchored by Sam Baker. But they won't be starting him, right?

I'm told DJ Humphries slated to make 1st #NFL start at LT for @AZCardinals on Sun v @AtlantaFalcons. Ulrick John will play RT. @SiriusXMNFL

— Alex Marvez (@alexmarvez) November 26, 2016

Oh man. Humphries has been called out for his poor conditioning and work effort in the past, and the young player will now lineup against the surging Adrian Clayborn and now healthy Dwight Freeney. He may even get a dose of Vic Bustly Beasley, one of the league's top pass rushers this season. That's a wide variety of pass rush moves that offensive line will need to deal with, and the declining Carson Palmer will need as much help as he can get.