Cardinals Sign Zane Gonzalez To Practice Squad
Zane Gonzalez has found a new gig. The Cardinals announced that they’ve signed the free agent kicker to their practice squad.
The 2017 seventh-round pick out of Arizona State hasn’t had the strongest start to his career. He appeared in 16 games as a rookie with the Browns, connecting on 15 of his 20 field goal attempts and 25 of his 26 extra point tries. The 23-year-old struggled in his two games this season, and the Browns released him following a dreadful Week 2 where he missed a pair of field goals and two extra points.
Later reports indicated that the kicker was dealing with a slightly torn groin, and Gonzalez ended up earning a $35K injury settlement from Cleveland. The injury had a recovery timeline of three weeks, so Gonzalez is presumably good to go.
Of course, he’ll have a tough time cracking the Cardinals roster. With Phil Dawson expected to return from injury this week, the team moved on from Matt McCrane yesterday. The 43-year-old Dawson hasn’t done anything to lose his job this season, but Arizona could be eyeing Gonzalez for 2019 should the veteran decided to hang up his cleats.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/20/18
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: CB David Amerson
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Chris Jones, WR Jalen Tolliver
- Released: DE Vontarrius Dora
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed from Eagles practice squad: OL Josh Andrews
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: DB Josh Shaw
Cardinals Release CB Jamar Taylor
Jamar Taylor‘s tenure with the Cardinals has come to an end. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports (via Twitter) that the organization is releasing the veteran cornerback. Taylor will be subject to waivers.
The 2013 second-round pick spent the first three seasons of his career with the Dolphins before being dealt to the Browns. Taylor ended up being productive during his two seasons with Cleveland, including a 2016 campaign where he had three interceptions and 13 passes defended. He finished the 2017 season having appeared in a career-high 16 games and finishing with a career-high 62 tackles.
The Browns shook up their cornerback corps this past offseason, signing free agents T.J. Carrie and E.J. Gaines and drafting Denzel Ward in the first round. Cleveland ended up trading Taylor to Arizona in exchange for a 2020 sixth-round pick. The cornerback saw a reduced role with the Cardinals, and he finished his tenure having collected 17 tackles and one pass defended in 10 games (three starts).
This move will leave the Cardinals with four healthy cornerbacks on their roster: Patrick Peterson, Brandon Williams, Bene Benwikere, and Leonard Johnson.
Cardinals Cut K Matt McCrane
With Phil Dawson expected to return from injury this week, the Cardinals have moved on from their placeholder at kicker. Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com reports (via Twitter) that the organization has cut Matt McCrane.
The 24-year-old’s stint with the organization was expected to be short-lived. The team signed the kicker to the active roster when they realized that Dawson wouldn’t be ready to go for Sunday’s matchup against the Raiders. McCrane ended up filling in adequately for the veteran, connecting on all three of his extra point attempts in the loss.
The Kansas State product also had a three-game stint with the Raiders earlier this season, connecting on five of his nine field goal attempts (including a career-long 44-yarder) and all five of his extra point attempts. Otherwise, the undrafted rookie spent a portion of his season on Arizona’s practice squad.
Prior to this past weekend, the 43-year-old Dawson hadn’t missed a regular season since he was with the Browns in 2009. He’s appeared in nine games for Arizona this season, connecting on four of his six field goal attempts and all 14 of his extra point tries.
Bruce Arians Likely To Be Considered In 2019 Head Coaching Searches
Bruce Arians is currently retired and working as a CBS commentator, but he’s expected to be considered for a number of head coaching vacancies in 2019, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.
Arians has already been linked to one open position, as he suggested earlier this month he’d be interested in the Browns’ head coaching gig, going as far as to say it’s the “only” job he’d consider this offseason. Arians later (somewhat confusingly) walked those comments back, saying he was merely trying to pump up Chuck Pagano‘s chances of landing in Cleveland.
The Browns are one team that will definitely be looking for a new head coach next year, but many other clubs could also make a change. If Arians does take another position, the Cardinals — Arians’ former employer — could theoretically attempt to seek draft pick compensation from his new club. Arians still had time left on his contract when he retired in January, so Arizona still holds his rights.
Arians, 66, served as an offensive coordinator for several teams before taking over as the Colts’ interim head coach in 2012. He served in that capacity while Pagano dealt with a cancer diagnosis, leading Indianapolis to nine wins while taking home Coach of the Year honors. Arians subsequently landed in the desert, and posted a 49-30-1 regular season record with the Cardinals over five seasons.
Cardinals Cut Kendall Wright, David Amerson
Two higher-profile veterans will lose their Cardinals roster spots to make room for younger players.
The Cardinals waived both David Amerson and Kendall Wright on Saturday to clear space for kicker Matt McCrane and defensive end Vontarrius Dora.
Both Wright and Amerson were in-season additions, the latter joining the Cards this week. But needs at other positions will send them to the waiver wire, where all vested veterans who are cut after the trade deadline go.
The Cardinals worked out McCrane on Friday, and this signing may be an indication Phil Dawson will not be able to kick on Sunday. The 20-year veteran missed practice time with a hip injury this week and is questionable.
This would be McCrane’s second game action as a rookie. He kicked in three games for the Raiders earlier this season but made just 5 of 9 field goals before being waived. The Kansas State product was in camp with the Cardinals and spent time on Arizona’s practice squad.
A former Broncos UDFA, Dora has not played in a game since the 2016 season but has spent this season on the Cards’ practice squad and has shown well during preseasons. Rodney Gunter and Robert Nkemdiche‘s statuses are in question for Sunday, and the Cards made an insurance promotion in Dora.
Wright caught on with the Cards earlier this year but has not played in a game since leading the Bears in receiving last season. Released by both the Raiders and Chiefs this year, Amerson logged numerous workouts before landing with the Cardinals on Tuesday.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/14/18
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: CB Leonard Johnson
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: LB Tre’Von Johnson
New England Patriots
- Signed: LB Ramon Humber
Oakland Raiders
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Saeed Blacknall
Washington Redskins
- Waived: CB Joshua Holsey
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/14/18
We’ll keep track of today’s practice squad moves here:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: OL Rick Leonard
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: RB Tyler Ervin
- Released: DB Makinton Dorleant
Detroit Lions
- Signed: DB David Jones
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: OL Rees Odhiambo
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: WR Rashard Davis, WR ArDarius Stewart
Washington Redskins
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/13/18
Here are Tuesday’s practice squad decisions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Cut: WR Montay Crockett
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: CB Denzel Rice
Denver Broncos
- Signed: WR Chad Hansen
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: WR Steve Ishmael, DE Anthony Winbush
- Released: OT De’Ondre Wesley
Oakland Raiders
- Cut: DE James Cowser
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: TE Will Tye
- Cut: TE Billy Brown
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: RB Ralph Webb
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: CB Mike Jordan
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/13/18
Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Waived: S Eddie Pleasant
Indianapolis Colts
- Promoted from practice squad: CB D.J. Killings
- Placed on IR: DE Carroll Phillips
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: LB Martrell Spaight
- Waived: CB Dee Delaney
Miami Dolphins
- Waived: DT Cameron Malveaux
New Orleans Saints
- Waived: S J.T. Gray
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: LB Kevin Minter
- Promoted from practice squad: RB Dare Ogunbowale
- Placed on IR: OL Evan Dietrich-Smith, RB Shaun Wilson
Tennessee Titans
- Promoted from practice squad: RB Dalyn Dawkins
- Waived: FB Jalston Fowler