Trace McSorley

Cardinals Activate QB Colt McCoy From IR

OCTOBER 16: Arizona has not, in fact, cut McSorley, per Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network (via Twitter). Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network adds that the team made the announcement in error and subsequently deleted it (Twitter link). So at least for the time being, the Cards have three QBs on their active roster in Murray, McCoy, and McSorley.

OCTOBER 15: The Cardinals’ preferred backup quarterback will be available for the first time this season. The team activated Colt McCoy from IR and released quarterback Trace McSorley.

McCoy battled multiple issues in the weeks leading up to the season, dealing with arm soreness during training camp before suffering a strained calf. The Cardinals brought McCoy over from the Giants last year, and that move went a long way toward snapping Arizona’s playoff drought.

Initially signed to a one-year deal in 2021, McCoy reupped with the Cards on a two-year, $7.5MM accord this offseason. The Cardinals gave the 13th-year veteran $6MM fully guaranteed, doing well to entrench McCoy as Kyler Murray‘s top backup. McSorley impressed during the preseason and has held that gig through five games, but he is not part of Arizona’s roster for the time being. It should expected, however, that the Cardinals will circle back to McSorley via a practice squad spot next week.

McCoy, 36, started three games with the Cards last season, which included McCoy-led wins over the 49ers and Seahawks. The former Browns draftee spent much of his career in Washington and was with the Giants in 2020. He completed 74.7% of his passes in those Murray fill-in starts last season. Both of McCoy’s victories as a 2021 starter came without DeAndre Hopkins, who was out due to injury for much of last season.

The Cards also promoted running back Corey Clement to their 53-man roster. Signed to Arizona’s practice squad this week, Clement will be needed to help a decimated backfield. James Conner, Darrel Williams and Jonathan Ward. Williams suffered an MCL sprain, while Conner may be sidelined for multiple games due to a rib injury.

The Cardinals also released linebacker Devon Kennard, though they have made that move before this year. Kennard, a Phoenix native, returned to the team after being released ahead of the August 30 roster cutdown. Kennard, 31, did start last week’s game and could be brought back soon. As a vested veteran, the ninth-year linebacker will bypass waivers next week. Wide receiver Javon Wims is also now on Arizona’s active roster.

Cardinals Place QB Colt McCoy On IR

The Cardinals will begin the season without their backup quarterback. Colt McCoy landed on IR Wednesday. Arizona promoted Trace McSorley from its practice squad.

McCoy did not play during Arizona’s preseason slate. While Kliff Kingsbury said the veteran backup was dealing with arm soreness early in training camp, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets the 13th-year passer suffered a strained calf.

Although the Cardinals would hope not to need McCoy this season, given that his participation is tied to Kyler Murray‘s availability, they did need him in 2021. Making three starts for an injured Murray, McCoy helped the Cards to two wins — each over NFC West rivals — that certainly went a long way toward the team booking a wild-card berth.

Despite not seeing much time during his long-term Washington stay, the former Texas Longhorn helped the Giants to a win over the playoff-bound Seahawks in 2020. New York, however, chose to replace McCoy with Mike Glennon — which turned out to be a significant downgrade — in 2021. McCoy completed 74.7% of his passes last season, with both of his wins coming while DeAndre Hopkins was out. McCoy, who turned 36 on Monday, re-signed with the team this offseason on a two-year, $7.5MM deal.

Formerly a Ravens backup, McSorley wound up in Arizona in November 2021; the Cardinals signed him off the Ravens’ practice squad. The team used McSorley frequently during its 2022 preseason but opted to waive him. The former sixth-round pick stayed with the team on a P-squad agreement, but he will now be Murray’s primary backup. McSorley has attempted 10 career passes.

Wednesday NFL Transactions: NFC West

Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline Tuesday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters. In addition to waiver claims, teams can begin constructing their 16-man practice squads today. These 49ersCardinals, Rams and Seahawks moves are noted below.

Here are Wednesday’s NFC West transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day.

Arizona Cardinals

Claimed:

Waived:

Signed to practice squad:

Los Angeles Rams

Signed to practice squad:

San Francisco 49ers

Signed:

Claimed:

Placed on IR:

Released from IR:

Signed to practice squad:

Seattle Seahawks

Signed:

Claimed:

Waived:

  • LB Joshua Onujiogu

Placed on IR:

Reverted to IR:

Signed to practice squad:

Cardinals Trim Roster To 53 Players

The Cardinals have set their 53-man roster, and the team naturally had to make some tough decisions as they cut down their roster:

Released:

Waived:

Waived/injured:

Placed on IR:

Placed on reserve/suspended:

It sounded like Trace McSorley had an opportunity to stick on the roster as a third QB behind Kyler Murray and Colt McCoy, but the Cardinals decided to carry only a pair of quarterbacks through their first wave of cuts. There’s a chance that McSorley resurfaces on the practice squad. The former sixth-round pick has seen time in three career games, completing three of his 10 pass attempts for 90 yards and one touchdown.

Aaron Brewer is a bit of a surprise cut after serving as the Cardinals full-time long snapper for the past six years. However, there’s a good chance the 32-year-old lands back on the active roster once the Cardinals place players on their respective reserve lists. The same could also probably be said of tight end Stephen Anderson, who caught 24 passes across 33 games with the Chargers over the past two seasons.

Marquis Hayes was a seventh-round pick by the Cardinals in this year’s draft. The Oklahoma product will sit out his rookie campaign while sitting on injured reserve.

Minor NFL Transactions:  11/22/21

Today’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Green Bay Packers

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

  • Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Jordan Brown

Los Angeles Chargers

New York Giants

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/20/21

We’ll keep track of today’s stream of minor moves right here:

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

Seattle Seahawks

  • Promoted: CB Gavin Heslop

Tennessee Titans

Wednesday NFL Transactions: AFC North

Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline Tuesday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters. In addition to waiver claims, teams can begin constructing their 16-man practice squads today. These BengalsBrownsRavens and Steelers moves are noted below.

Here are Wednesday’s AFC North transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day.

Baltimore Ravens

Signed to practice squad:

Cincinnati Bengals

Claimed:

Released:

Waived:

Signed to practice squad:

Cleveland Browns

Signed:

Placed on IR:

Signed to practice squad:

Pittsburgh Steelers

Signed to practice squad:

Ravens Reduce Roster To 53

The Ravens cut down their roster to 53 players today, with the team making the following transactions:

Released

Waived/Injured

Placed on Reserve/NFI

The team also announced a handful of previously reported transactions, which you can find here.

Obviously Pernell and Levine are the two major names on this list, but there’s a chance the veterans land back in Baltimore once the team places a handful of players on IR.

Pernell spent the past two seasons in Baltimore, starting 20 of his 22 appearances. In those 22 games, the 32-year-old collected 53 tackles and six sacks. The veteran also started his career with the Ravens before bouncing between the Bears and Washington. Levine, meanwhile, isn’t a stranger to bouncing on and off the Ravens roster, but he’s still managed to miss only one regular season game for the organization since 2013. That missed game actually came in 2020, when the special teams ace finished with only seven tackles.

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/15/20

Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:

Baltimore Ravens

Houston Texans

Jacksonville Jaguars

Los Angeles Chargers

  • Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: S Derwin James; James remains on IR

Minnesota Vikings

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

  • Waived: CB Brandon Williams

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

Tennessee Titans

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Ravens Promote 10 From Practice Squad

Ravens warmups featured Robert Griffin III taking snaps from Trystan Colon-Castillo, who will play his first NFL game. But Baltimore promoted a host of reinforcements that will provide depth at other positions.

The Ravens elevated 10 players from their practice squad ahead of Tuesday’s game, filling out a roster decimated by the coronavirus and the NFL’s virus protocols.

Using the COVID-19 replacement designation, the Ravens elevated linebacker Aaron Adeoye, defensive tackle Aaron Crawford, tight end Sean Culkin, quarterback Tyler Huntley, long snapper Nick Moore, offensive lineman R.J. Prince, defensive end Chauncey Rivers, tight end Eric Tomlinson, running back Ty’son Williams and tight end Luke Willson. They also added safety Geno Stone to the reserve/COVID-19 list.

This extensive batch of pregame moves will supply the Ravens with a third-string quarterback and running back depth. Lamar Jackson is one of 17 players still on Baltimore’s reserve/COVID list, forcing today’s visiting team to promote nearly its entire practice squad. The team activated Trace McSorley from the virus list Tuesday, and Huntley — a rookie UDFA — will play behind he and RG3. Williams will slide in behind Gus Edwards and Justice Hill, with Mark Ingram and J.K. Dobbins ruled out.

But the Ravens’ point-of-care coronavirus tests came back negative Wednesday. After three postponements and 10 straight days of Ravens positive tests, the NFL’s first Wednesday game in eight years (and second in the past 60 seasons) is a go.