Former Auburn defensive lineman Angelo Blackson signed a deal to join the Arizona Cardinals practice squad on Wednesday. The 31-year-old lineman returns to the NFL just a few weeks after the failing to make the Denver Broncos 53-man roster in the final week leading up to the regular season.
Since being drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the 2015 NFL Draft, Blackson has paved out a fairly successful journeyman career in the league. The former Tiger has played for five different franchises over the course of nine seasons, including the Cardinals in 2020.
Over those nine seasons, Blackson has accumulated 179 tackles, 8.5 sacks, and an interception. 2.5 of those 8.5 career sacks came when he was last in Arizona during the fan-less 2020 campaign. The former fourth-round pick could provide some depth for a Cardinals defense that is projected to finish near the basement of the NFL in terms of yardage and points allowed.
Arizona’s staff may have seen a glimpse of how bad their defensive group could be in the team’s 34-28 loss to the Buffalo Bills in week one. While the loss and defensive outlook might be tough to swallow for Cardinals fans, it could be good news for Blackson as he looks to make his first major impact in the NFL since he had 2.5 sacks and a career-high 43 tackles with the Chicago Bears in 2021.
The NFL allows franchises to elevate a maximum of two practice squad players ahead of each week’s contest. Blackson will likely take time to learn his new team’s defensive scheme, but could have a chance to suit up for Arizona as soon as week three.
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