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Cardinals WR Christian Kirk likely out Sunday but ankle better

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Christian Kirk may have avoided a major injury to his right ankle in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 27-10 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, but he'll likely miss this weekend's game at Cincinnati.

Coach Kliff Kingsbury said Kirk is "not likely for Sunday" and will be limited in practice Wednesday.

Kingsbury wouldn't say whether Kirk's injury was a high- or low-ankle injury but added there already has been some improvement.

"He's moving around better," Kingsbury said. "We're very pleased that it wasn't much worse."

Kirk suffered the injury on the third-to-last play of the Cardinals' loss to the Seahawks. His right leg bent backward during a tackle by Seahawks cornerback Jamar Taylor. Kirk remained in the game and caught a pass on the next play, but couldn't stand afterward and was attended to by trainers.

"I thought it was bad," Kingsbury said. "He got rolled up pretty bad. And he's a tough kid. If he's limping around and in that type of pain, you know something's wrong. But luckily, it's not as bad as we thought."

Kingsbury's hope is for Kirk to return for Arizona's Week 6 game against Atlanta.

"We're going to see how he responds, but much, much better than what I anticipated," Kingsbury said.

Kirk was just the latest hit to the Cardinals' receiver depth.

Kingsbury said it "looks unlikely" that Damiere Byrd, who missed Sunday's game against Seattle with a hamstring injury, will play against the Bengals.

"We like where he was heading development-wise," Kingsbury said. "We don't want to rush him back. And he's a guy who, he's a speed player. He needs to be full strength. I don't think he was the last couple of weeks and we want him to get back 100 percent."

With Kirk and Byrd injured, rookie receiver Andy Isabella, Arizona's second-round pick, will get more snaps. Isabella has played just eight offensive snaps this season, with seven coming Sunday against Seattle. Kingsbury took the blame for Isabella's lack of production -- he hasn't caught a pass this season.

"Up to this point, it's really just about fit," Kingsbury said. "We've moved him around several places and backing up Christian, backing up [Larry Fitzgerald], it's hard to get on the field. And we're going to continue to try and get him comfortable at one spot.

"I expect him to continue to get more time. And it's not for lack of effort or talent or anything like that. It's just we moved him around and I think it's slowed his development a little bit."

The Cardinals are expected to have five healthy receivers available Sunday: Fitzgerald, Isabella, rookie KeeSean Johnson, second-year player Trent Sherfield and Pharoh Cooper, whom Arizona re-signed on Tuesday.

Cardinals rookie defensive end Zach Allen suffered a stinger and will also be limited in Wednesday's practice. Kingsbury was not sure of Allen's status for Sunday's game.