HEADLINES

Arizona Cardinals News & Rumors

Cardinals Open DL Darius Robinson’s Practice Window

October 11th, 2024 at 12:00pm CST by Adam La Rose

OCTOBER 11: Robinson experienced discomfort with his calf during Thursday’s practice, Gannon said. As a result, he will not be activated in time for Week 6. Plenty of time will remain for Arizona to being Robinson into the fold before his 21-day activation clock expires.

OCTOBER 7: Darius Robinson was sidelined for the Cardinals’ first five games of the season, but he could be close to suiting up. The first-round rookie had his practice window opened on Monday, per Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon.

[RELATED: G Will Hernandez Suffers Season-Ending Knee Injury]

Robinson suffered a calf injury in August, threatening his Week 1 availability. To little surprise, Arizona elected to designate him for return from injured reserve ahead of the roster cutdown deadline. Teams were permitted to do so with two players in 2024 as part of an IR rule tweak, and the Cardinals took that route with Robinson as well as O-lineman Christian Jones.

During a five-year run at Missouri, Robinson primarily worked along the defensive interior. During the 2023 campaign, however, he played on the edge and enjoyed success in a pass-rushing role. The 23-year-old racked up 8.5 sacks (a major jump compared to his previous career high of 3.5) along with 14 tackles for loss. That production put him in the first-round conversation, and Arizona selected him at No. 27.

Robinson’s addition came about as the Cardinals sought to bolster their pass rush. That unit suffered a notable blow before the regular season even started when BJ Ojulari suffered an ACL tear, shutting him down for the campaign. Especially with Ojulari out of the picture, Robinson could find himself logging at least a notable rotational role once he is activated.

Today’s move opens gives Arizona 21 days to officially bring Robinson onto the active roster. One of the team’s eight IR activations was already used when he was designated for return, which also applies to Jones. The latter practiced last week, though he has yet to be activated. A move on that front for he and Robinson should be expected to take place relatively soon.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/9/24

October 9th, 2024 at 7:46pm CST by Ely Allen

Wednesday’s minor NFL transactions:

Arizona Cardinals

Buffalo Bills

Cincinnati Bengals

  • Designated for return from reserve/PUP list: CB DJ Ivey

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Las Vegas Raiders

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Free Agents

The Browns are set to start working Hurst and Diabate back to the active roster in practice. 17 of Hurst’s 18 starts came in his first three years in the NFL back from 2018-20, but he did line up as a starter in his lone game with the Browns this year prior to being placed on injured reserve.

Carpenter and Smith are set to miss their next six games due to the suspension levied by the NFL. Carpenter’s suspension is likely linked to the December arrest last year that saw him released from Pittsburgh’s practice squad. The purpose for Smith’s suspension isn’t as clear, but he also got arrested in 2022 on drugs and weapons charges.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/9/24

October 9th, 2024 at 6:48pm CST by Ely Allen

Today’s practice squad transactions:

Arizona Cardinals

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Los Angeles Chargers

New York Jets

Tennessee Titans

Wilson is a former collegiate basketball player who played for two years apiece at Idaho and Oregon State. He transitioned to football, transferring to Washington State for three years, appearing in 12 games in 2022 at right and left tackle. He then played in 13 basketball games for the Cougars before transferring to Minnesota and transitioning back to basketball for his final year of collegiate eligibility.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/8/24

October 8th, 2024 at 7:49pm CST by Adam La Rose

Tuesday’s minor moves around the league:

Arizona Cardinals

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

Tennessee Titans

Kirkland is out for the season due to a biceps tear, head coach Zac Taylor said on Monday. That injury resulted in the addition of Andrew Stueber off Atlanta’s practice squad, a move which became official today. Kirkland, a former UDFA, made a pair of appearances this season, seeing sparse usage on offense and special teams.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/7/24

October 7th, 2024 at 8:33pm CST by Adam La Rose

Here are the minor moves made around the NFL on Monday:

Arizona Cardinals

  • Received one-game roster exemption: WR Zay Jones

Atlanta Falcons

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

  • Received one-game roster exemption: DT Mike Hall

Green Bay Packers

Philadelphia Eagles

New Orleans Saints

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Both Jones and Hall were issued suspensions under the personal conduct policy leaving them sidelined for the first five weeks of the season. Their roster exemptions will allow them to make their debuts in Week 6, but after that point a corresponding move will be needed for them to be permanently activated to their respective 53-man rosters.

Lemieux served as New Orleans’ starting center in Week 4 after being promoted from the practice squad. He stepped into a first-team role in place of Erik McCoy, who is dealing with a groin injury. Losing Lemieux for at least the next four games will deal another blow to the Saints’ O-line. Connor McGovern was added to the mix recently, but Lucas Patrick has received the nod at center to begin the team’s Week 5 matchup.

Cardinals G Will Hernandez Out For Season

October 7th, 2024 at 1:25pm CST by Sam Robinson

The right side of the Cardinals’ offensive line will feature multiple backups going forward. With Jonah Williams‘ return timetable murky, the team will absorb another blow via Will Hernandez‘s Sunday injury.

Hernandez is believed to have sustained a season-ending malady, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo tweets. The former Giants second-round pick left the 49ers matchup with a knee injury, and it looks likely it will sideline him until the 2025 campaign.

This is a tough blow for Hernandez, who is in a contract year. Despite Hernandez arriving during the Steve Keim-Kliff Kingsbury regime’s final year, he became a priority for the Monti Ossenfort-Jonathan Gannon duo. Hernandez re-signed on a two-year, $9MM deal in 2023. Seeing as he had established himself as a starting-caliber guard, a nice raise was likely in the cards — be it from the Cardinals or another team in free agency — but this injury could nix that prospect.

Pro Football Focus rated Hernandez as the No. 20 overall guard through five games, as he has helped clear paths for the resilient James Conner. With the team cutting D.J. Humphries this offseason, Hernandez is the Cardinals’ longest-tenured O-line starter. Though, Kelvin Beachum — displaced as a starter once the team drafted Paris Johnson Jr. in 2023 — has been with the team longer. Beachum, a Cardinal since 2020, has been thrust back into a starting role due to Williams’ injury. Williams has a chance to return this season, but it is not certain the former first-rounder will be able to do so.

Not seeing his 17-start 2021 contract year generate much free agency interest, Hernandez caught on with the Cardinals on a one-year deal worth just $1.19MM. He started 13 games for a disappointing 2022 team, missing time with an injury, but bounced back to play in 17 contests last season. Going down early may well force the 29-year-old blocker into another “prove it” deal at a bad time. Hernandez is running short on time to capitalize on his prime years, and while a $4.5MM-per-year is nothing to sneeze at, this injury could hijack his route toward eight-figure-per-year money.

It is not known if this is an ACL tear, but the Cardinals will need a new plan. Trystan Colon replaced Hernandez in San Francisco, doing so as third-round rookie Isaiah Adams missed the game with a thumb injury. Adams’ draft status figures to make him an option to fill in soon, but Colon was the next man up initially. Adams has played just six offensive snaps this season. Colon played 315 snaps for the Cards at left guard last season. UFA addition Evan Brown mans that spot this year.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/5/24

October 5th, 2024 at 7:29pm CST by Adam La Rose

Saturday’s gameday elevations and other minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New York Giants

New York Jets

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Washington Commanders

Mariota returned to practice on Wednesday, which was the earliest point at which he could be designated for return. As a result, it comes as little surprise he has been brought back onto Washington’s active roster. The 30-year-old is in his first season with the Commanders, and today’s move paves the way for him to handle backup duties moving forward.

Ngakoue remained on the free agent market into the start of the regular season. He was not connected to a Ravens reunion, but one took place last week. The journeyman sack artist had a brief spell with Baltimore in 2020, and he posted three sacks in 11 games. Ngakoue, 29, had one-and done campaigns in Vegas, Indianapolis and Chicago before taking a Ravens practice squad deal. He will make his debut tomorrow and aim to provide depth along the edge.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/3/24

October 3rd, 2024 at 6:50pm CST by Ely Allen

Today’s practice squad moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Cleveland Browns

Seattle Seahawks

Brightwell returns to Cleveland via the practice squad after getting waived earlier this week. The team is perhaps attempting to clear space for running back Nick Chubb to eventually make his way off the IR. Chubb was designated to return from the reserve/physically unable to perform list today.

Richardson was signed to the practice squad spot that was vacated when outside linebacker Tyus Bowser was signed to the Dolphins active roster today off of Seattle’s practice squad.

Cardinals’ Jonah Williams Uncertain To Return In 2024

October 2nd, 2024 at 10:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

Out since suffering a knee injury in Week 1, Jonah Williams would be eligible to return next week. It does not look like the Arizona free agency acquisition will come particularly close to that, and his availability for the season’s remainder is murky.

Williams played 22 snaps in his Cardinals debut, leaving and landing on IR soon after. The Cardinals have kept their cards close to the vest on the former first-round pick’s availability, but ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler indicates the veteran tackle’s season is in jeopardy.

It is not known what specific knee injury Williams suffered, but it probably is not an ACL tear. That would remove the uncertainty about this situation, as Fowler adds a November return has been floated. Considerable doubt exists, however, about whether that is realistic. As it stands, the Cardinals may be forced to scramble at right tackle the rest of the way.

Costs are low on Arizona’s O-line beyond Williams, who signed a two-year, $30MM deal in March. Williams came over a year after requesting a trade (and then backtracking) from the Bengals, and despite that trade ask aimed at being moved to a team that would station him at left tackle, the 2019 first-round pick signed with a team planning to slot him on the right side.

The Cardinals cut longtime left tackle D.J. Humphries but moved 2023 first-rounder Paris Johnson Jr. from RT to LT — in a move that followed Humphries’ early-career trajectory. (Humphries suffered an ACL tear in Week 17 of last season; he is not believed to be healthy enough to pass a physical.)

Johnson has stayed healthy and has played well; Pro Football Focus ranks the second-year blocker ninth among all tackles. The advanced metrics site views Williams’ replacement, Kelvin Beachum, as a top-40 option. The Cardinals retained Beachum last year despite drafting Johnson sixth overall last year, keeping the 35-year-old blocker around as a swingman. That insurance has become important this season, one that featured Kyler Murray‘s return to full-time duty.

Williams, 27, missed all of his rookie year due to a shoulder injury and saw a dislocated kneecap sideline him for the bulk of the Bengals’ 2022 playoff run. He returned on time in 2023 and played all 17 Cincinnati games, commanding a quality short-term contract on a weak tackle market. Cardinals guaranteed $2.5MM of Williams’ $10.78MM 2025 base salary. A $2.5MM injury guarantee also exists in the contract for 2025; that would kick in if the sixth-year vet cannot pass a physical to start the ’25 league year.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/2/24

October 2nd, 2024 at 8:31pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

  • Practice window opened: T Christian Jones

Cleveland Browns

Green Bay Packers

  • Practice window opened: DT Jonathan Ford

Houston Texans

Las Vegas Raiders

New York Giants

Miami Dolphins

New England Patriots

New York Jets

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Today marks most teams’ first practice before Week 5, making it the first date players stashed on IR as teams set their initial 53-man rosters can work out again with their teams. This year’s IR tweak allowed teams to designate up to two players for return August 27, the catch being all players who receive that designation count toward their respective club’s eight-activation total. The batch included in today’s minor moves post consists entirely of players to receive that August IR-return designation.

The IR-return window is unchanged, however, with teams having 21 days from Wednesday to activate these players. Anyone from today’s group not being activated from IR by October 23 must miss the rest of the season. PFR will keep track of all players returning from IR via the Injured Reserve Return Tracker.

Load More Posts