- While former Cardinals coach Bruce Arians has repeatedly said the only job he would come out of retirement for would be the Browns’, he might be having a change of heart. The legendary offensive coach told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link), that he knows Buccaneers GM Jason Licht, and “would listen” if the Bucs came calling. Tampa is almost certainly looking for an offensive coach to revitalize Jameis Winston‘s career, and Arians would be a very intriguing option.
- The Jets aren’t the only team interested in Bieniemy, as Terez Paylor of Yahoo Sports tweets that the Buccaneers and Dolphins have reached out as well. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network added in a tweet that the Cardinals have also requested an interview, bringing the number of teams interested in Bieniemy to four. Given the success that members of the Andy Reid coaching tree has had in recent years, it’s not surprising he’s a sought after name.
- Speaking of the Cardinals, the team has requested Rams quarterbacks coach Zac Taylor, Rapoport tweets. The Cardinals are in desperate need of an offensive coach who can help Josh Rosen after Rosen’s woeful rookie campaign, and Taylor is very highly thought of in some circles. Rapoport notes the team has “been doing work on him”, so this seems like more than just a courtesy interview.
The last expected move has been made official, as the Cardinals have fired head coach Steve Wilks, according to Chris Mortensen of ESPN (Twitter link). 
The team showed a lot of fight in their Week 17 game against the Seahawks but came up short, and it ultimately wasn’t enough to save Wilks’ job. Wilks ended up lasting just one season in Arizona. While being a one and done is rare, it’s certainly not unheard of, and Wilks’ fate was sealed with a 3-13 record. Arizona’s season was doomed from the start, as it was clear right from the get-go that Sam Bradford didn’t have anything left in the tank. Bradford was benched for Josh Rosen, and offensive coordinator Mike McCoy was fired shortly thereafter.
The firing of McCoy did nothing to spark the offense, and Rosen showed little progress during his rookie year, which was likely one of the determining factors in Wilks’ firing. Wilks came to Arizona after a successful year as the Panthers’ defensive coordinator, and has always been well liked by players.
It’s been heavily rumored that the Panthers will have a staff shakeup on defense, and Joe Person of The Athletic tweets that he would “be very surprised” if Wilks doesn’t return to Carolina in some fashion. The Wilks firing makes eight openings across the league, and it will likely be the last firing barring any late surprises.
The Cardinals have been linked to a number of coaches, including Mike McCarthy, and are seemingly interested in hiring an offensive mind to pair with Rosen. They also were reportedly impressed with Patriots defensive coordinator Brian Flores during last year’s cycle, and with Flores set to be one of the top available candidates, could be interested again. At this point it appears that GM Steve Keim, also rumored to have been on the hot seat, has been spared.
- No one is sure what will happen with Marvin Lewis and the Bengals, and his assistant coaches are actively trying to find out, per Florio. Some believe Lewis will retire from coaching and begin a broadcasting career, while others believe he could become a candidate for the Cardinals‘ head coaching job. If Lewis moves on, Florio writes — as has been reported numerous times — that Hue Jackson would be a candidate to replace him, as would current Vikings head coach (and former Cincinnati DC) Mike Zimmer. Zimmer would perhaps be interested in the Bengals’ gig, per Florio, but much would depend on whether Minnesota would let him leave and if the Vikings would demand significant compensation in exchange.
We learned earlier this week that former Packers head coach Mike McCarthy is interested in the Cardinals’ head coaching job, which is expected to become available in short order. However, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reports that McCarthy does not want the gig after all, and that he is likely to sit out the 2019 campaign.
If that is the case, it is not for a lack of trying on the Cardinals’ part. La Canfora says that Arizona offered McCarthy control over personnel as well as the on-field product, but McCarthy is content to wait for the perfect opportunity, and it does not appear that the Cardinals’ job is particularly attractive at the moment. There is concern in coaching circles about quarterback Josh Rosen‘s long-term future, and the roster as a whole does not engender much optimism.
Of course, if McCarthy were to accept Arizona’s overtures, current GM Steve Keim would be fired. However, since the Cardinals are not likely to attract McCarthy or any other coach that would be a legitimate candidate to also run the personnel side of things, La Canfora says Keim is likely to return in 2019. Indeed, Keim has already been putting together a list of head coaching candidates in preparation for the upcoming hiring cycle.
One name on Keim’s list could be Jim Caldwell, whom the Packers have already interviewed for McCarthy’s former post. Albert Breer of SI.com reports that Caldwell is likely to be considered for the Cardinals’ job, and even if the team does the unexpected and retains current HC Steve Wilks, Arizona would be interested in Caldwell as a coordinator on Wilks’ staff, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
Here are Friday’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Malachi Dupre, DT Pasoni Tasini
- Waived: CB Leonard Johnson, CB Deatrick Nichols
Carolina Panthers
- Promoted from practice squad: G Dorian Johnson
- Placed on IR: RB Kenjon Barner
Cleveland Browns
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Blake Jackson
- Placed on IR: LB Tanner Vallejo
Detroit Lions
- Claimed off waivers from Saints: DE Mitchell Loewen
- Placed on IR: DT A’Shawn Robinson
Indianapolis Colts
- Waived: S Rolan Milligan
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Promoted from practice squad: RB Dimitri Flowers, QB Tanner Lee
- Activated from IR: LB Donald Payne
- Placed on IR: K Josh Lambo, T Josh Wells
- Waived: LB Martrell Spaight
Washington Redskins
- Placed on IR: WR Maurice Harris
Here are today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: OL Will House
Houston Texans
- Re-signed: LB Tyrell Adams
- Signed: CB Michael Hunter
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: DE Tyrone Holmes
The Raiders and Packers both submitted a waiver claim on new Cardinals safety D.J. Swearinger, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Ultimately, the Cardinals won out due to their top priority and 3-12 record, but Swearinger had interest before the claim was finalized. 
Swearinger was in the midst of a productive campaign before the Redskins cut him loose this week. The 27-year-old compiled 53 tackles, one sack, three forced fumbles, and four interceptions in 15 games and the metrics at Pro Football Focus were also high on him this season. Swearinger presently ranks 11th out of 86 eligible safeties.
Swearinger was openly critical of the Redskins’ decision making this year and his vocalness likely led to his release. In any event, Washington’s loss is Arizona’s gain. The Cardinals have secured a Pro Bowl alternate on the cheap and they’ll only be on the hook for paying his $176K paycheck in the final week of the season. After that, the Cards have the ability to keep him for $4.25MM in 2019 or let him go without penalty since that salary is non-guaranteed.
- The Cardinals have the inside track on the 2019 No. 1 pick, but one player believes (via the Arizona Republic’s Bob McManamon) the team has too many needs not to trade down. As of now, no quarterback is looking like a surefire top-five pick. Such a scenario has not unfolded since 2013. But as Baker Mayfield, Patrick Mahomes and Carson Wentz have shown, the pre-draft process can see some fast-rising prospects. If a member of this class gets to that point, the Cardinals could auction their pick off to a QB-needy team like the Jaguars, Giants or Broncos, McManamon offers. Entering the offseason, the Cardinals hold seven picks in the ’19 draft, their own seven.
Multiple teams reorganized their practice squads on Christmas.
Arizona Cardinals
- Released: S Fish Smithson
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: WR Malik Turner
The other part of the Cardinals’ D.J. Swearinger transaction will send rookie tackle Korey Cunningham to IR. A foot injury will end Cunningham’s season.
While an IR move going into Week 17 may merely be procedural, Cunningham has served as Arizona’s starter at left tackle for the past six games. He will add to the long list of Cardinal blockers on IR.
The Cards have lost starters A.Q. Shipley, D.J. Humphries, Justin Pugh and Mike Iupati, along with fill-in starter John Wetzel, this season — a miserable one for Arizona’s offense. The Cardinals rank last in points and yards; the team ending the season at the bottom of both categories would mark a first for the franchise in the Super Bowl era.
Cunningham played 349 snaps this season and started nearly half of the way, doing so despite being picked at No. 254 this year.