Arizona Cardinals Rumors & News - Pro Football Rumors

Cardinals Place C Rodney Hudson On IR, Sign K Tristan Vizcaino

November 13th, 2022 at 12:43pm CST by Rory Parks

The Cardinals have placed center Rodney Hudson on injured reserve, per a team announcement. Hudson has dealt with knee trouble since training camp, and while he played in the first four games of the season, he has been sidelined ever since.

It is fair to wonder whether this is the end of the line for Hudson, who reportedly contemplated retirement this offseason. In 2021, his first season with the Cardinals, he was one of Pro Football Focus’ worst-rated centers after years of high-level performance. Since he became a full-time starter in 2013, his third professional season, he had not registered a PFF grade below 71.0, but that number fell to 60.9 last season.

2021 also saw the typically-durable blocker miss five games due to rib and shoulder injuries, and combined with this year’s knee ailment, his health is clearly an increasing concern. He is under contract through 2023, though the Cardinals’ interior O-line has been hit hard by injury this year, and the club could seek to remake that unit this offseason.

Arizona first turned to Sean Harlow to replace Hudson, and then to former Bengals first-rounder Billy Price. Price never lived up to his draft status in Cincinnati, which is why he was available for the Cards to pluck him off the Raiders’ taxi squad in early October. While it appears he will continue operating at the pivot in the near-term, his performance has not improved. His dismal 38.6 overall grade, underscored by four penalties and four sacks allowed, is the second-worst mark in the league among players with enough snaps to qualify.

In other Cardinals news, the team signed kicker Tristan Vizcaino to the active roster. Matt Prater, who has battled a hip injury this year, will miss Arizona’s Week 10 contest against the Rams. Vizcaino has made nine of his 10 career field goal tries, though he is just 12-for-17 on PATs.

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/12/22

November 12th, 2022 at 7:00pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are the minor roster moves in anticipation for Sunday’s slate of games:

Arizona Cardinals

Activated from IR: S Charles Washington
Promoted from practice squad: OL Rashaad Coward

Chicago Bears

Promoted from practice squad: OLB Gerri Green, CB Harrison Hand

Denver Broncos

Promoted from practice squad: T Quinn Bailey, DE Jonathan Harris

Detroit Lions

Activated from reserve/PUP: FB Jason Cabinda
Signed to active roster: TE Shane Zylstra
Promoted from practice squad: WR Stanley Berryhill, LB Jarrad Davis

Green Bay Packers

Promoted from practice squad: K Ramiz Ahmed, LB Ladarius Hamilton

Kansas City Chiefs

Promoted from practice squad: S Ugochukwu Amadi

Las Vegas Raiders

Promoted from practice squad: DT Kyle Peko

Los Angeles Chargers

Signed to active roster: RB Larry Rountree
Promoted from practice squad: K Cameron Dicker, T Foster Sarell

Miami Dolphins

Signed to active roster: S Verone McKinley III
Promoted from practice squad: T Kion Smith

Minnesota Vikings

Promoted from practice squad: TE Nick Muse

New Orleans Saints

Signed to active roster: G Josh Andrews
Promoted from practice squad: RB Jordan Howard, CB Bryce Thompson

New York Giants

Activated of reserve/PUP: T Matt Peart
Promoted from practice squad: TE Lawrence Cager, DL Henry Mondeaux

San Francisco 49ers

Promoted from practice squad: DT T.Y. McGill

Seattle Seahawks

Promoted from practice squad: LB Vi Jones
Placed on IR: FB/OLB Cullen Gillaspia

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Promoted from practice squad: LB Ulysees Gilbert, CB Ryan Smith

Tennessee Titans

Promoted from practice squad: DL Larrell Murchison, WR C.J. Board

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/10/22

November 10th, 2022 at 4:53pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Thursday’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Waived: DL Michael Dogbe

Atlanta Falcons

Promoted: OL Jonotthan Harrison, OL Ryan Neuzil

Chicago Bears

Waived: TE Jake Tonges

New Orleans Saints

Signed from practice squad: RB Adam Prentice, LB Nephi Sewell

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/9/22

November 9th, 2022 at 4:01pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Wednesday’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Claimed (from Saints): G Wyatt Davis
Placed on IR: G Will Hernandez (story)
Designated for return: S Charles Washington

Chicago Bears

Designated for return: LB Matthew Adams

Dallas Cowboys

Activated from IR: DE Tarell Basham

Detroit Lions

Placed on IR: RB Craig Reynolds
Signed off Broncos’ practice squad: WR Trinity Benson

Green Bay Packers

Placed on IR: OLB Rashan Gary (story)
Designated for return: OLB Tipa Galeai

Indianapolis Colts

Designated for return: WR Ashton Dulin

Las Vegas Raiders

Signed from practice squad: S Isaiah Pola-Mao

Los Angeles Chargers

Placed on IR: DL Austin Johnson (story)
Signed from practice squad: DL Breiden Fehoko

Minnesota Vikings

Designated for return: TE Ben Ellefson

San Francisco 49ers

Designated for return: DE Jordan Willis

Adams, Dulin, Ellefson, Galeai, Washington and Willis each have until Nov. 30 to be activated from IR. Should they not be activated, they would revert to season-ending IR. The Colts and Vikings are in solid shape regarding activations, having only used one apiece. The Bears, Cardinals, 49ers and Packers have used three such moves apiece. Teams are allotted eight injury activations this season.

The Cowboys dangled Basham in trades before last week’s deadline, but no takers emerged. While the team cut the other D-lineman they were hoping to deal — Trysten Hill, who has since been claimed by the Cardinals — they ended up using one of their injury activations on Basham. A former Colts third-round pick, Basham notched 3.5 sacks during his first Cowboys season last year. He played in one game this season (Week 1) before going down with a quadriceps injury. The Cowboys, who have Tyron Smith and James Washington on their IR-return radar, have used two injury activations this season.

Cardinals S Budda Baker, G Will Hernandez To Miss Time

November 7th, 2022 at 5:54pm CST by Sam Robinson

As they attempt to pick up the pieces from a disappointing first half, the Cardinals must begin doing so without one of their best players. Budda Baker will be forced out of the lineup due to a high ankle sprain, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

The Cardinals are hoping the All-Pro safety can come back in two or three weeks. Arizona’s Week 13 bye could be a factor here. The Cardinals play the Rams, 49ers and Chargers ahead of that week.

Arizona will also be without starting guard Will Hernandez for the time being. While Hernandez does not have a definitive timetable, Kliff Kingsbury did not sound too optimistic about the offseason addition returning soon. Kingsbury said (via AZCardinals.com’s Darren Urban, on Twitter) he is hopeful this is not a season-ending pectoral injury. This will stall a solid bounce-back season from the former Giants starter.

This will be relatively new territory for Baker. The sixth-year defender has missed three games throughout his career. He has been one of the best draft picks of Steve Keim‘s GM tenure, making four Pro Bowls and becoming a two-time first-team All-Pro.

The Cardinals have both Baker and Jalen Thompson signed long term, with the former tied to a four-year, $59MM extension. This certainly stands to limit Arizona’s pass defense — one a subaverage cornerback situation already impacts. Dropping their sixth game of the season, the Cardinals exited Week 9 as the league’s 26th-ranked defense.

Signed to a low-cost deal this offseason, Hernandez became an instant starter opposite Justin Pugh. Despite a limited market, the four-year Giants starter has provided some stability up front for Arizona, which has seen injuries decimate its interior offensive front. Pugh is out for the season, while Max Garcia has missed the past two Arizona games. The eighth-year veteran could return in Week 10, per Kingsbury, and will be an option to replace Hernandez. Kingsbury said center Rodney Hudson is not expected to make his return in Week 10. Hudson, who contemplated retirement this offseason, has not played since Week 4. Billy Price is likely to start at center again against the Rams.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/7/22

November 7th, 2022 at 4:13pm CST by Adam La Rose

Today’s practice squad moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Released: P Nolan Cooney

Carolina Panthers

Signed: WR Emeka Emezie, CB Gavin Heslop, DE Kobe Jones
Released: S Marquise Blair, QB Jacob Eason

Cleveland Browns

Signed: C Jordan Meredith
Released: C Brock Hoffman

Houston Texans

Signed: DL Brandin Bryant
Released: DE Derick Roberson

San Francisco 49ers

Signed WR Tajae Sharpe
Released: TE Troy Fumagalli

Sharpe has bounced in recent years, and the 49ers will be his second team in 2022. The 27-year-old initially signed with the Bears in May, but did not see the field in Chicago. He will provide depth for a San Francisco team which has had fellow veteran Willie Snead see time on and off the taxi squad.

Cardinals RB James Conner To Return In Week 9

November 6th, 2022 at 2:52pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Cardinals have been without their top running back for the past three weeks, but their ground game will receive a boost today. James Conner is among the notable players who will be active for Arizona’s Week 9 contest against the Seahawks, as noted (on Twitter) by team reported Darren Urban.

Conner suffered a rib injury in Week 5, and it was expected to cause a multi-week absence. That dealt a blow to the Cardinals’ running game, as the 27-year-old had once again operated as the lead back following his highly-productive debut Arizona season last year. The former Steeler was named a Pro Bowler after scoring 18 total touchdowns and recording 1,127 scrimmage yards.

Things have not gone as well in 2022, however. Conner had yet to top 55 rushing yards in a game prior to the injury, averaging 3.7 yards per carry and finding the endzone just once. Overall, the Cardinals’ offense underperformed during the early portion of the season, as DeAndre Hopkins remained sidelined due to his PED suspension. That led head coach Kliff Kingsbury to acknowledge that he would consider ceding play-calling duties.

Since then, backup Darrel Williams has suffered an MCL sprain, and is currently on IR. That, coupled with Conner’s absence, opened the door to former seventh-rounder Eno Benjamin taking on lead back duties. He totaled 223 scrimmage yards over the past three weeks, but a healthy Conner would likely provide a boost to an Arizona offense averaging 116 yards per game on the ground, ranking them mid-pack.

Conner was limited throughout the week, leading to his being listed as a game-time decision on the weekend. That, in turn, suggests that he will have a limited role for at least today’s game while splitting snaps with Benjamin. Still, his return will be a welcomed sight as the Cardinals look to move out of the NFC West basement. After missing last week’s contest, left tackle D.J. Humphries will also be active.

Teams Inquired On Cards’ DeAndre Hopkins

November 6th, 2022 at 9:30am CST by Rory Parks

The 3-5 Cardinals are presently in last place in their division and are on the outside of the NFC playoff picture. It is of little surprise, then, that Arizona GM Steve Keim received a “flurry of trade calls” from teams interested in wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins prior to Tuesday’s trade deadline (via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com). We do not know who placed the calls, but given their reported interest in other receivers, clubs like the Cowboys, Packers, and even the division-rival Rams might have checked in.

The leaguewide desire to add receiving help was on full display at the deadline, as Chase Claypool, Calvin Ridley, Kadarius Toney, and T.J. Hockenson all changed teams, and notable pass catchers like Brandin Cooks and Jerry Jeudy were the subject of trade discussions as well. At present, Hopkins is better than any of those players, and he is under club control through 2024 with no guaranteed money left on his contract, so Keim could have demanded a hefty return if he were interested in swinging a deal.

Hopkins, 30, has been terrific since returning from his six-game PED suspension. In two games this year, he has caught 22 balls for 262 yards and a score, and quarterback Kyler Murray is a noticeably better passer with Hopkins in the lineup. The Cardinals acquired Marquise Brown in a draft-day trade in April in the hopes that he and Hopkins would form a formidable 1-2 punch when Hopkins got back on the field, but Brown is on IR with a foot injury and is not expected back for a few more weeks. Following Brown’s injury, Keim traded for Panthers wideout Robbie Anderson, who has seen just 19 snaps in two games with the Cardinals as he continues to get acclimated to Kliff Kingsbury‘s offense.

When healthy, that offense — which has been without RB James Conner for the last three weeks and which was without WR Rondale Moore for the first three games of the campaign — can be a potent one. And the NFC West is not exactly a powerhouse this year, so rather than deal his top playmaker, Keim stood pat and will now look to see if Hopkins can help his club claw back onto the postseason chase.

However, Rapoport observed that it’s unclear whether Keim was unwilling to trade Hopkins, or if other teams simply didn’t meet his asking price. Hopkins, who is due base salaries of $19.5MM in 2023 and $14.9MM in 2024 — eminently reasonable figures in light of the exploding receiver market — could be on the trade block this offseason. Indeed, while his salaries are manageable, his cap charges on Arizona’s books are significant ($30.8MM in 2023 and $26.2MM in 2024) due to his prorated bonus money.