Arizona Cardinals News & Rumors

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/19/18

Today’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Carolina Panthers 

Miami Dolphins

New York Giants

Tennessee Titans

Washington Redskins

Practice Squad Updates: 12/19/18

Today’s practice squad moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Carolina Panthers

Detroit Lions

Los Angeles Chargers

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

Oakland Raiders

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Redskins

Cardinals Claim WR Pharoh Cooper

The Cardinals claimed former Rams wide receiver Pharoh Cooper off of waivers, a source tells Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Cooper was waived by the Rams on Tuesday to make room for running back C.J. Anderson.

Cooper was a 2017 All-Pro as a return man, but his 2018 season in L.A. did not go as expected. A Week 1 injury sent Cooper to IR, and when he returned in November, he was relegated only to kick returns as Jojo Natson took over on punt return duty.

A 2016 fourth-round pick, Cooper averaged 12.5 yards per punt return in 2017 and returned one kick for a score. He struggled during Los Angeles’ playoff loss but was still prioritized by the NFC West champions this season. Now, the Cardinals have claimed Cooper’s contract, which runs through 2019.

The Cardinals likely see Cooper as a candidate for 2019’s roster, but he may also provide them with valuable intel in advance of their Week 16 matchup against the Rams.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/18/18

We’ll keep track of today’s practice squad moves here:

Arizona Cardinals

  • Signed: CB Jonathan Moxey

Cincinnati Bengals

  • Signed: S Chris Cooper

Cleveland Browns

  • Signed: OL Kyle Friend

Green Bay Packers

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  • Signed: DE Farrington Huguenin

Tennessee Titans

Washington Redskins

NFL Workout Updates: 12/18/18

Here is the latest from the workout circuit, all links going to Adam Caplan of Sirius XM Radio’s Twitter account (unless otherwise noted).

Arizona Cardinals

Buffalo Bills

Green Bay Packers

Los Angeles Chargers

  • DE Avery Ellis (link)

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Redskins

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/18/18

Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Buffalo Bills

Cincinnati Bengals

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Miami Dolphins

New York Giants

New York Jets

  • Signed off Patriots’ practice squad: T Eric Smith

Oakland Raiders

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Redskins

Cardinals Considering Sweeping Changes, Expected To Fire Steve Wilks

  • At the beginning of this month, Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network said the Cardinals were going to reassess their front office and coaching staff at the end of the season, and Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reaffirms that report today. JLC writes that Arizona is mulling sweeping changes, and some sources say it would be a “major surprise” if first-year head coach Steve Wilks keeps his job. The bigger question, according to those sources, is whether GM Steve Keim is retained, but if he is not, he is a strong candidate to join the Raiders‘ front office.

Fritz Pollard Alliance Recommends GM Candidates

The Fritz Pollard Alliance has released its annual list of minority candidates for general manager vacancies. Much like the latest batch of recommended coaching hires, the suggested GM list is more than twice as long as last year’s. 

[RELATED: Fritz Pollard Alliance Recommends Head Coaching Candidates]

Here’s the full rundown, via Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (Twitter link):

  • Ray Agnew (Rams)
  • Joey Clinkscales (Raiders)
  • Quentin Harris (Cardinals)
  • Alonzo Highsmith (Browns)
  • Brad Holmes (Rams)
  • Champ Kelly (Bears)
  • Martin Mayhew (49ers, ex-Lions GM)
  • Will McClay (Cowboys)
  • Jimmy Raye III (Lions)
  • Jerry Reese (ex-Giants GM)
  • Doug Whaley (ex-Bills GM)
  • Doug Williams (Redskins)

 

Clinkscales, Highsmith, McClay, and Williams were all featured on last year’s list, but none of those executives landed GM jobs. The only executive from the last round of recommendations who did not carry over to this year was Ray Farmer, the former Browns GM who is currently serving as a senior consultant with the Rams.

Of the dozen suggested executives on this list, only three sat for GM interviews in the last cycle: Mayhew (Panthers), Raye (Texans), and Whaley (Packers). McClay was asked to interview for the Texans opening, but declined the opportunity and instead signed a two-year extension to stay with the Cowboys. McClay may garner consideration again this time around, but he might not be interested in leaving Dallas.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/13/18

Today’s practice squad updates:

Arizona Cardinals

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

  • Signed: G Oni Omoile

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

  • Signed: WR C.J. Board

New Orleans Saints

  • Signed: WR Martez Carter

New York Giants

Washington Redskins

  • Signed: OL Roubbens Joseph
  • Placed on injured list: OL Casey Dunn

Cardinals DT Robert Nkemdiche Suffered Torn ACL

The Cardinals placed defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche on injured reserve earlier this week, but declined to give details on the nature of his injury. Today, Arizona head coach Steve Wilks announced that Nkemdiche actually suffered a torn ACL against the Lions (Twitter link via Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com).

The revelation of Nkemdiche’s ACL tear has numerous implications, beginning with his availability for the 2019 campaign. ACL recovery times can vary in length, with most players taking anywhere from six-to-twelve months to regain full health. Clearly, that timeline creates a wide range of outcomes for Nkemdiche’s 2019 season. If he can heal quickly, the former first-round pick could be ready for training camp. If not, Nkemdiche could potentially miss most or all of next year.

New of Nkemdiche’s knee injury will likely also affect his future earnings. The Cardinals hold a 2020 fifth-year option on Nkemdiche, and they’ll have to make decision on that option by May 2019. It’s guaranteed for injury only, and given Nkemdiche’s ACL tear, it seems highly unlikely that Arizona will exercise the option. Were Nkemdiche unable to pass a physical in 2020, the Cardinals would be on the hook for his salary (which will be in excess of $7MM) regardless of whether he can play or not.

Whether Arizona would have any interest in exercising Nkemdiche’s option even if he were at full health is an open question. After being selected 29th overall in 2016, Nkemdiche hasn’t done much in the NFL. Health questions have kept him off the field for much of his career, and he’s only played in 27 total games over three years. This season, Pro Football Focus graded Nkemdiche as just the No. 102 interior defender among 118 qualifiers.