Cardinals Move OL John Wetzel To IR
Although Sam Bradford was the big name coming off the Cardinals’ 53-man roster Saturday, another part-time starter will as well.
The Cardinals placed offensive lineman John Wetzel on IR with a neck injury. He must miss at least eight weeks, and given the Cards’ showing to this point, it’s likely the utility blocker will be out for the rest of the season.
Signed to an ERFA tender this offseason, Wetzel started in five games for the Cardinals. He’d played an off-the-bench role before, having started 11 games for a banged-up Cards offensive front. The former UDFA started eight games for the 2016 Cardinals.
Wetzel, 27, stands to be a restricted free agent this offseason.
Following the Bradford and Wetzel moves, Arizona now has two open roster spots. The Cardinals are off this week and return to action in Week 10 against the Chiefs.
Cardinals Cut Sam Bradford
Sam Bradford‘s Cardinals stay wasn’t expected to be lengthy, especially after the team benched the well-paid quarterback in September. But it will end up being shorter than expected.
The Cardinals announced they’ve cut Bradford. This comes after they shopped their current backup quarterback at the trade deadline, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter).
Arizona gave Bradford a $20MM guarantee to be its bridge option, but after starting three games in what turned out to be three losses, the oft-injured quarterback hit the bench and has not returned. Josh Rosen remains Arizona’s starter and likely will be for the foreseeable future. Now, Mike Glennon is his primary backup.
This move coming after the trade deadline means Bradford is on the waiver wire. Had the Cardinals cut him last week, the 30-year-old passer would’ve hit free agency. Now, he’ll be a possible candidate to land with a quarterback-needy team. Bradford has $2.5MM in base salary remaining on his Cards contract for 2018, with ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter adding (via Twitter) $2.5MM in roster bonuses remain as well.
Bradford’s deal comes with a 2019 $24.687MM cap hit — something that will surely be untenable for any team at this point in the former Heisman Trophy winner’s career. However, this is an option season. If Bradford is claimed and is on the claiming team’s roster on the third day of the 2019 league year, his $7.5MM 2019 base salary and a $10MM roster bonus become fully guaranteed. This path seems incredibly unlikely.
This transaction, interestingly, affects the Vikings as well. Since the Cardinals cut Bradford before Week 10, the Vikings will lose out on a projected third-round compensatory pick in 2019, per ESPN.com’s Mike Sando (on Twitter). The compensatory formula now stands to net the Cards an additional sixth-round 2019 pick because of Kareem Martin‘s free agency defection, per OverTheCap’s Nick Korte (Twitter link).
For his short Cardinals career, one of the NFL’s premier cash collectors received $15.9MM, per ESPN.com’s Field Yates (on Twitter). In signing Bradford for what turned out to be an 80-pass season, the Cardinals will be tagged with $5MM in dead money come 2019.
Teams like the Bills, Jaguars or even the now-Pat Shurmur-coached Giants could conceivably be interested in claiming Bradford as a rental option, though he’s dealt with a pectoral injury since being demoted and has not proven to be a reliable option since setting the NFL completion percentage record with the 2016 Vikings. Bradford figures to be a free agent in 2019. The spree of windfalls for the former No. 1 overall pick are probably over after four different teams paid him as a starter since the 2010 season.
After starting for most of the 2015 season and all of 2016, Bradford has played in just five games since the start of last season. Another knee injury ended his run as Minnesota’s starter. It’s likely if Bradford chooses to keep playing in 2019, he’ll have to do so as a backup.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/31/18
Here are the practice squad decisions teams have made on Halloween:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: TE Gabe Holmes, DT Vincent Valentine.
- Released: DT Pasoni Tasini, TE Andrew Vollert
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: CB Taveze Calhoun
- Cut: CB Deante Burton
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: DB Robert Jackson
- Cut: DB Arrion Springs
Detroit Lions
- Signed: DE Alex Barrett
- Cut: TE Jerome Cunningham
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: RB Lavon Coleman
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: K Michael Badgley
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed DL Ifeadi Odenigbo
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: CB Jeremy Boykins
NFL Workout Updates: 10/30/18
Here’s the latest from the workout circuit. All links to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account, unless otherwise specified.
Arizona Cardinals
- OT Cornelius Lucas, OT Derek Newton, DT Will Sutton, DT Vincent Valentine
Baltimore Ravens
- LB Ejuan Price
Chicago Bears
- C Luke Bowanko, OG Adam Gettis, LB Lorenzo Mauldin, LB Aaron Wallace
Cleveland Browns
- OG David Bright
- DE Alex Barrett, LB Jonathan Freeny, CB Jalen Myrick, LB Kelvin Sheppard
Green Bay Packers
- T Andrew Nelson, LB Anthony Winbush
Jacksonville Jaguars
- TE Troy Niklas
Miami Dolphins
- DT Joey Mbu, DE Kendall Reyes, DT Sylvester Williams
New Orleans Saints
- DE Robert Ayers, DE Tank Carradine, DE Will Clarke, CB Jeremiah McKinnon, S Obi Melifonwu, DE Ifeadi Odenigbo, CB Marcus Williams
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/30/18
Here are Tuesday’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: DE Vontarrius Dora, OL Kyle Friend
- Released: DE Ufomba Kamalu, K Matt McCrane
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: LB Xavier Woodson-Luster
- Released: LB Brady Sheldon
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: TE Ethan Wolf
Houston Texans
- Signed: WR Steven Mitchell
- Released: WR Cyril Grayson
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: DB Maurice Smith
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: OG Landon Turner
New York Jets
- Signed: CB Juston Burris
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: OT Jamar McGloster
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: TE Tyrone Swoopes
- Released: OL JJ Dielman
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: RB Dare Ogunbowale
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/30/18
Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: OG Colby Gossett (off Vikings practice squad), TE John Phillips
- Released: OL Blaine Clausell, TE Gabe Holmes
Atlanta Falcons
- Waived: DL Michael Bennett
Baltimore Ravens
- Released: DE Albert McClellan
Buffalo Bills
- Waived: CB Dontae Johnson
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: MLB Hayes Pullard
- Waived: K Mike Badgley
Los Angeles Rams
- Waived: OG Jamon Brown
New York Giants
- Waived: CB Mike Jordan
Oakland Raiders
- Promoted from practice squad: DE/OLB James Cowser
Philadelphia Eagles
- Waived: DT Bruce Hector
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived: WR Victor Bolden, CB Greg Mabin
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Javien Elliott
- Released: LB Kevin Minter
Washington Redskins
- Waived: LB Cassanova McKinzy
Chandler Jones Could Be Traded; Cardinals Could Have Received "Bounty" For Patrick Peterson
- Breer names a number of other players whose names we have not heard in recent rumblings but who could nonetheless be on the move: the Packers‘ Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, the 49ers‘ Pierre Garcon and Jimmie Ward, the Cardinals‘ Chandler Jones, and the Broncos‘ Shane Ray and Brandon Marshall. Breers adds that San Francisco would need to get something “significant” to deal Ward. He also says that, while teams are certainly interested in Denver corners Bradley Roby and Chris Harris, he thinks it would be difficult for the team to trade either.
- If they had elected to trade Patrick Peterson, La Canfora writes that the Cardinals could have received a bounty for him, and may have even landed multiple first-round picks (in fact, several teams were already prepared to offer a first- and second-rounder). JLC reports that Peterson was considered the “crown jewel” of the deadline, and given his attractive contract status, he may be the subject of renewed trade rumors during the offseason.
Cardinals Sign Matt McCrane To P-Squad
With concern over Phil Dawson‘s hip injury, the Cardinals signed kicker Matt McCrane to the practice squad. To make room, the Cards released offensive lineman Kyle Friend from the 10-man unit.
McCrane was with the Cardinals in the preseason before being cut, so coaches are already familiar with what he offers. He hooked on with the Raiders after being let go, but he was pretty lousy in his three games as Mike Nugent‘s stand-in. The Kansas State product went 5-for-9 on field goal tries and was just 2-for-6 when subtracting chip shots from 20-29 yards out.
Perhaps he’d have better luck in Arizona. During the preseason, McCrane nailed 4-of-4 field goal attempts, including two tries from 50 yards or longer.
If Dawson can’t go this weekend, the Cardinals can promote him to the active roster on Saturday and have him in the lineup on Sunday when they face the 49ers. Kicking is the least of the Cardinals’ worries, but his presence gives the 1-6 club one less thing to worry about.
NFL Workout Updates: 10/24/18
Today’s workout updates, all courtesy of veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer (on Twitter):
Arizona Cardinals
- TE Ethan Wolf; K Zane Gonzalez
Cincinnati Bengals
- TE Marcus Lucas
Cleveland Browns
- WR Deontez Alexander, Marcus Tucker; CB Linden Stephens; LB Corey Nelson
Detroit Lions
- RBs Gerald Holmes, Jalen Simmons; DE Anthony Lanier; DT Josh Banks
Houston Texans
- TE Khari Lee
Indianapolis Colts
- WRs C.J. Board, Montay Crockett, Chad Hansen; DT Zaycoven Henderson; S A.J. Howard
Jacksonville Jaguars
- LBs Richie Brown, Colton Jumper, Mike Needham, Aaron Wallace; CB Breon Borders; S Jack Tocho
Kansas City Chiefs
Minnesota Vikings
- T Andrew Lauderdale
Oakland Raiders
- OTs Darius James, Jamar McGloster, De’Ondre Wesley; Gs Maurquice Shakir, Isaiah Williams
Seattle Seahawks
- G J.J. Dielman; S Justin Currie
Tennessee Titans
- RB Ralph Webb; TE Khari Lee; DT Vincent Valentine; LBs Vontarrius Dora, Gimel President
Bidwill Meeting Changed Peterson's Mind
The Cardinals and Patrick Peterson appear to be moving forward together, despite the All-Pro cornerback’s trade request. A key part of Peterson reaffirming his commitment to the franchise was a 30-minute meeting with team president Michael Bidwill, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com notes (on Twitter). The parties discussed ways the Cardinals could improve, with Bidwill assuring Peterson the franchise is committing to winning, per Schefter.
“I think we definitely have a clear understanding and I have two years left under my contract, so I’m here,” Peterson said, via ESPN.com’s Josh Weinfuss (on Twitter), who adds the cornerback didn’t exactly exude much happiness during his remarks Wednesday, which could be understandable given the state of the Cardinals (Twitter link).