NFL Nation

          Waiting to regain feeling in both arms was 'scary feeling' for Mike Iupati

          Mike Iupati was told not to move as he was being strapped onto a stretcher, which made the experience even scarier, he said. Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports

          TEMPE, Ariz. -- Before he collided with Seattle Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor on Sunday night, Arizona Cardinals left guard Mike Iupati had never experienced stingers on both sides of his body.

          One side, yes. Both sides, never.

          That’s when the 28-year-old got scared.

          “When your neck hurts and both of your arms go numb, it’s a scary feeling,” Iupati said Thursday.

          Feeling began to return to his arms while he was still laying on the turf at CenturyLink Field in Seattle in the middle of the second quarter.

          “Just one of those things you got to pray and it kind of went away,” Iupati said.

          But waiting wasn’t easy. While doctors from both teams attended to him on the field and paramedics strapped him onto stabilizing boards and then a stretcher, Iupati was told not to move. It was easier said than done for Iupati when he was trying to make sure he could, actually, move.

          “It’s scary when something like that happen and you’re waiting for it to go away and the doctor says you can’t move your neck,” Iupati said. “So you’re like, ‘How do you know if it’s OK or not?’ You can’t move it.”

          Iupati praised the Cardinals trainers for following the necessary protocols on the field and being able to send word to his wife, Ashley, that he was going to be OK.

          The injury happened when Iupati pulled on a run play for Cardinals running back Chris Johnson. The crown of his head collided with Chancellor’s shoulder, leaving Iupati motionless on the field for about 8 minutes. Looking back on the play, Iupati said his angle to block Chancellor was “wrong.”

          “I was a little nervous,” offensive coordinator Harold Goodwin said. “When you’re pulling towards Kam, you better be prepared because he brings a load. Much respect for that guy.

          “I was just glad (Iupati) was OK, and it’s good to see him back on the practice field.”

          Iupati returned to practice Thursday in a limited form. Going forward, Iupati said he needs to be “smart” on the field. As for playing Sunday night against the Cincinnati Bengals, Iupati said, “I should be OK.”

          But Goodwin said a decision on Iupati hasn’t been made yet.

          “(He) looked fine. Got some work in today,” Goodwin said. “We’ll see what happens going into tomorrow, into Saturday to see whether he makes it or not on Sunday.

          “Excited to have him back out there. He’s still goofy Mike, so I’m good.”