- Things haven’t gone too smoothly for Cardinals linebacker Haason Reddick during his first couple of years in the league. The 13th overall pick of the 2017 draft has had his position changed multiple times, and is in his third defensive system in three years. He also apparently hasn’t been fully healthy, as he recently underwent “minor surgery,” according to Mike Jurecki of the team’s official site (Twitter link). We don’t have many details on the injury, but Reddick said he’d be ready for the opener. There were rumors last year that Reddick was on the trade block, and we’ve heard recently 2019 will be a pivotal year in determining his future with the team. The Temple product has been moved back to inside linebacker for this season.
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: LB Hayes Pullard, WR Isaac Zico, OL Parker Ehinger, OL Patrick Lawrence
- Waived: OL Tariq Cole, RB Xavier Turner
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: S Ronald Martin, CB Hamp Cheevers
- Waived: CB Rashard Causey, LS Kyle Vasey
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: TE Mik’Quan Deane
- Waived/injured: WR Blake Jackson
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: OL Jamar McGloster
- Claimed off waivers from Cowboys: OL Larry Allen Jr.
- Waived/injured: LB Tre’von Johnson, OL Cole Toner
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: LB Nick DeLuca
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: TE Alex Ellis
- Waived: LB Joey Alfieri, Godwin Igwebuike
Washington Redskins
- Signed: DB D.J. White
- Waived: LS Andrew East
Phil Dawson is calling it a career. On Thursday, the kicker announced that he is retiring from the NFL at the age of 44. 
Dawson was the second-oldest player in the NFL last year, behind only Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri. With the Cardinals, Dawson made 5-of-8 field goals and sank all of his extra points before going down with a hip injury.
Prior to that, Dawson spent most of his career with the Browns and also spent four years with the 49ers. Fittingly, his retirement press conference will take place in Cleveland, where he kicked for 14 seasons.
Dawson leaves the game with a Pro Bowl nod (2012) and a lifetime FG completion rate of 83.8%. His hip will get some well-deserved rest after 526 career attempted field goals and 305 career games.
The Cardinals are bringing in another veteran edge defender. Former Jaguars and Dolphins defensive end Andre Branch agreed to terms with the Cardinals on a one-year deal, Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com notes.
Branch spent the past three seasons in Miami but was one of the many veterans the Dolphins jettisoned this offseason. The Cardinals recently released Matt Longacre, and Branch looks like the team’s latest veteran depth option in its Chandler Jones– and Terrell Suggs-fronted group. Branch, 30, met with the Cardinals in June.
While Branch has only played in 4-3 schemes, the Cardinals are likely adding him to rush the passer. So, his role in their 3-4 scheme likely does not stand to be too different. Branch also played under new Cardinals DC Vance Joseph in 2016. No other team was connected to the seven-year veteran this offseason.
The former second-round Jaguars pick has 25.5 career sacks (1.5 in 14 games last season). He registered 10 between the 2016 and ’17 seasons, with the Dolphins previously signing him to a three-year, $24MM deal. Branch joins Suggs and Brooks Reed as Jones complementary cogs Arizona added this year.
- Just four days after the Cardinals signed linebacker Matt Longacre, the team released him on Sunday, Florio writes. The move comes just a day after the team activated Brooks Reed from the physically unable to perform list. In 2018, Longacre appeared in 13 games with the Rams, recording one sack and 17 tackles.
Robert Nkemdiche‘s time with Arizona is officially over. The Cardinals announced they were releasing the former first-round defensive lineman on Saturday night. 
The move is hardly surprising, as the writing has been on the wall for a while now. The Cardinals drafted Nkemdiche 29th overall back in 2016, and he never panned out. Nkemdiche was the top recruit in the nation coming out of high school a handful of years ago, and he didn’t quite live up to the hype at Ole Miss either. Nkemdiche was due a roster bonus this week, so the timing makes sense.
The defensive lineman is coming off an ACL tear, and we heard just yesterday that he showed up to camp out of shape, which was likely the final straw. Nkemdiche’s health will determine how much cap space the Cards will save with this move, as we’ve heard that he could be able to recoup more of his money if he qualifies for the CBA’s injury protection. Making matters even worse for Nkemdiche, he’s facing a possible suspension stemming from a June arrest.
Still, because of his draft pedigree, Nkemdiche will likely resurface somewhere relatively quickly. He’ll be labeled as a bust for now though unless he’s able to reinvent himself elsewhere, as he only appeared in 27 games over three years for Arizona. He made just six starts during his time in the desert, all of which came last year. He finished 2018 with 32 tackles and 4.5 sacks, the first sacks of his NFL career.
- Former first-round pick Robert Nkemdiche doesn’t appear to be making a good impression with the Cardinals’ new coaching staff. The 29th overall pick in the 2016 draft is coming off an ACL tear, and head coach Kliff Kingsbury said the Ole Miss product showed up to camp out of shape, per Kent Somers of The Arizona Republic (Twitter link). Somers adds that Nkemdiche “apparently neglected his overall physical condition while rehabbing from ACL.” Nkemdiche is already on thin ice, and this certainly isn’t going to help his case. We’ve heard that he’s likely to be cut, and he’s also facing a likely suspension for a June arrest. He’s only started six games in his three years in the league, and is looking like a bust.
- The Cardinals are focusing Tramaine Brock on a role as a slot cornerback, Kyle Odegard of AZCardinals.com notes. Brock mostly played outside under Vance Joseph last season, prior to Chris Harris‘ season-ending injury. On the outside, second-round pick Byron Murphy and second-year corner Chris Jones are the top candidates vying to play opposite Robert Alford. This arrangement looks like the plan until Patrick Peterson returns from his six-game suspension.
Matt Longacre‘s stay in free agency ended Wednesday, with the Cardinals reaching an agreement to sign the former Rams edge defender. The team announced the deal.
The latest veteran edge player to sign with the Cards this offseason, Longacre will head to the desert after news of another one of those acquisitions — Brooks Reed — beginning camp on the active/PUP list. Reed has battled a hip injury this offseason. Longacre, who is four years younger than Reed, figures to compete for a depth spot behind Chandler Jones and Terrell Suggs.
The Rams used Longacre, 27, as both a starter and a reserve. The former Division II star started one game in his first three seasons but seven in 2018, after the Rams went with a lower-profile edge corps to start the season. After a 5.5-sack 2017, Longacre registered one last season. He did play in each of the Rams’ playoff games and visited the Ravens this offseason; Baltimore opted for Shane Ray and Pernell McPhee.
Reed signed for $1.6MM, helping his case to stick on Arizona’s 53-man roster. Longacre joins a cast of aspiring backups, including Vontarrius Dora, Cameron Malveaux and Pita Taumoepenu. Dora played for the Broncos under new Cardinals DC Vance Joseph.
You can expect the Seahawks to add a veteran defensive tackle following Jarran Reed‘s suspension, Brady Henderson of ESPN.com tweets. He also offers a couple of names to keep an eye on: Earl Mitchell and Corey Liuget have both been linked to Seattle and are still available.
Here’s more from the NFC West:
- Rams receiver Cooper Kupp will not have to start training camp on the physically unable to perform list, Steve Wyche of NFL Media tweets. That’s huge for Kupp, who tore his left ACL in November. The receiver has been vocal about his desire to play in Week 1 and it sounds like he’ll be ready to go for the opener if all goes well from here. Last year, Kupp had 40 catches for 566 yards and six scores before succumbing to injury.
- A minor bit of news – Cardinals lineman Justin Pugh will shift from right guard back to his native left guard this season (Twitter link via Pugh). Pugh, 29 in August, started in all seven of his games for the Cardinals last year before landing on IR in November. The former first-round pick, unfortunately, has not played a full season since his 2013 rookie year.