Category: Latest Cardinals news

Cardinals use second return from injury designation on OL Brett Toth

He gets to practice with the team for the final three weeks of the season.

A minor note this week with the Arizona Cardinals clarified a potential return of injured cornerback Robert Alford. The Cardinals used their second injury designation for return on offensive lineman Brett Toth.

Toth had been on the non-football illness list since cornerback Patrick Peterson was reinstated from his six-game suspension.

Because they designated Toth to return and previously did so with offensive lineman Jordan Mills, it means Alford, who broke his leg in training camp, is done for the season and cannot return.

The move meant Toth could return to practice. It allows the Cardinals to evaluate him before the season ends and decide if he has a place in their future.

Teams typically must reinstate a player designated to return within 21 days. Because there are fewer than 21 days left in the Cardinals’ season, Toth will not have to be reinstated before the season ends.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

Ep. 251:

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Ep. 250:

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TE Caleb Wilson poached from practice squad by Redskins

He spent the entire season on Arizona’s practice squad after being the final pick in the 2019 draft.

The Arizona Cardinals lost one of their 2019 draft picks this week. Tight end Caleb Wilson, Mr. Irrelevant of the 2019 draft class as he was the last selection of the draft, was signed by the Washington Redskins off the practice squad.

Wilson had spent all season on the practice squad after initially getting cut before the season.

The Cardinals have four tight ends already on their roster in Charles Clay, Maxx Williams, Darrell Daniels and Dan Arnold, whom they recently claimed off waivers.

Wilson, while in his final season at UCLA in 2018, led the nation in receiving yards by a tight end.

If signed only to a one-year deal, if retained until the end of the season, Washington will retain exclusive rights to Wilson in the offseason.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

Ep. 251:

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Ep. 250:

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Terrell Suggs’ release was mutual decision and out of respect for him

His role was diminishing and the team wasn’t going anywhere. He now potentially can rejoin the Ravens for a potential championship run.

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The release of 17-year veteran and future Hall of Famer Terrell Suggs by the Arizona Cardinals came as a surprise to many. This release was not like others. It was not because of performance or because he wasn’t a good fit in the locker room.

According to head coach Kliff Kingsbury, it was out of respect for Suggs.

“We’ve been having conversations as the season went on, as his role has been reduced and we’ve kind of made the shift to playing some younger players, moved Haason (Reddick) out there,” Kingsbury told reporters after practice on Friday. “In fairness to him to try and find a better fit right now, we released Terrell. I just have so much respect for him and what he brought and wanted to give him that opportunity.”

There is rampant speculation that he will ultimately re-sign with the Baltimore Ravens, the team where he spent 16 seasons, as they appear to be championship contenders.

Suggs production was not good in recent weeks. He did not even log a single tackle in the last two games and only had half a sack in the last six games, but Kingsbury raved about how he handled himself.

“He was phenomenal in our building — work ethic, energy, the juice he brought every day,” he said. “His professionalism was through the roof so we wanted to give him the opportunity to find a fit if it’s out there.”

It was a mutual decision with conversations as the season progressed. Kingsbury said “the respect was both ways,” so it isn’t a case of Suggs being unhappy.

His role was going to diminish and the Cardinals weren’t going to go anywhere. It is actually a nice gesture for the team, even if it just looks like another veteran free agent player they are dumping. This case is different.

Suggs finished the season with the Cardinals having played and started in 13 games. He had 37 tackles and 5.5 sacks.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

Ep. 251:

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Ep. 250:

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Terrell Suggs released by Cardinals

He finishes the season with 5.5 sacks and 37 tackles in 13 games.

The Arizona Cardinals made a surprising move on Friday. They announced the release of veteran outside linebacker Terrell Suggs.

He played 13 games for the Cardinals this year after signing as a free agent in the offseason. It was a homecoming for Suggs, who attended high school Hamilton High played collegiately for Arizona State. After 16 years with the Baltimore Ravens in what is expected to be a Hall of Fame career, he came home.

However, after two sacks in the season opener, he only picked up three more in the next five games. He has logged only half a sack in the last six games and did not even have a single tackle in the last two weeks. He has barely even practiced.

He finishes the season with 5.5 sacks and 37 tackles.

His release will allow the Cardinals to give more snaps to Haason Reddick and Cassius Marsh.

The team did not announce a corresponding roster move.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

Ep. 251:

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Ep. 250:

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Larry Fitzgerald does yearly sidestep of retirement discussion

“I don’t give it much thought. I told you before, I stay in the moment. The career will end. When it ends, it ends.”

The Arizona Cardinals play their final home game of the season this Sunday against the Cleveland Browns. As such, receiver Larry Fitzgerald was peppered with questions about his future in the NFL by reporters on Thursday when he spoke with the media.

As always, he deflected and sidestepped every attempt to try and even get a hint of what his decision might be.

“I’m just taking it one day at a time,” he said. He says he hasn’t given it any thought.

This Sunday’s game might be his final home game. He acknowledged that.

“It could be, you never know,” he said. “I don’t give it much thought. I told you before, I stay in the moment. The career will end. When it ends, it ends.”

In the meantime, he will continue to prepare for each game, focusing on the process. He is good at keeping things focused on the present.

“In terms of the future, that’s something I’ll address later.”

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

Ep. 251:

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Ep. 250:

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WATCH: David Johnson presented as Cardinals’ Man of the Year

Team chairman and president Michael Bidwill and Johnson both speak about the work.

https://www.facebook.com/arizonacardinals/videos/2562974153822191/

The Arizona Cardinals announced on Thursday that running back David Johnson was named the team’s Walter Payton Man of the Year, nominating him for the league award, recognizing his great work in the community.

Chairman and team president Michael Bidwill made the announcement, highlighting all Johnson’s work, together with his wife Meghan, on behalf of children through his foundation.

Bidwill said he loves the day he makes this announcement.

Johnson then accepted the award and spoke, calling it “a great honor” to be the team’s representative. He is grateful for having the ability impact children’s lives.

“As soon as I got into the league, our first goal was to be there for kids,” he said. “The first thing we did was we spent our time at the children’s hospital, spent our time doing a lot of community stuff around here and doing as much as we can.”

He is proud to know he isn’t only being recognized for what he does on the field but also what he does away from football.

Watch the video above for all that Bidwill and Johnson said.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

Ep. 251:

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Ep. 250:

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David Johnson not happy about current role on Cardinals offense

“Any NFL player, any competitor, if you’re not on the field, you’re obviously not going to be happy about it,” he told reporters Wednesday.

Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson lost his starting role a few weeks ago and has only had limited action recently. He doesn’t really like how things are going right now.

He isn’t, though, disgruntled.

“It’s been tough,” he told reporters after practice on Wednesday. “Any guy in the NFL, they want to get on the field. It’s tough when you’re not on there.”

He indicated he has spoken to the coaches about his playing time and he has been explained why his role has been reduced. He wised to keep those conversations private but indicated he didn’t necessarily agree with what he was told. “There’s different opinions to everything,” he said.

Is he okay with his role?

“Obviously not,” he said. “Any NFL player, any competitor, if you’re not on the field, you’re obviously not going to be happy about it.”

Johnson is coming off one of his better recent performances. He only had five touches but had 53 yards from scrimmage, rushing three times for 19 yards and catching two passes for 34 yards, including a 24-yard touchdown.

He wants to play more but he understands what his role is.

“We know what we expect out of each other and I feel pretty good, but obviously I’m still not playing a lot,” he said.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

Ep. 251:

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Ep. 250:

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LB Tanner Vallejo making Kliff Kingsbury regret cutting him

“He’s one of those tough-nosed linebackers. He gave us a real lift,” Kingsbury said of Vallejo’s play against the Steelers.

The Arizona Cardinals had a surprise contributor on Sunday in their 23-17 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Linebacker Tanner Vallejo was highly productive in limited playing time.

He had five tackles, one for a loss, a sack, a quarterback hit and a forced fumble in only 16 snaps.

Vallejo only joined the active roster days before the game. He spent the offseason with the team and was cut before the season began. They re-signed him in November to the practice squad and then added him to tie 53-man roster last week.

Head coach Kliff Kingsbury now regrets cutting Vallejo initially.

“He’s a guy, looking back on it, (who) probably should have made our team initially with his instincts and the way he shows up and did all preseason,” he said on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM this week. “He’s one of those tough-nosed linebackers. He gave us a real lift.”

The Cardinals had a logjam at inside linebacker and Vallejo was the odd man out. With the struggles at the position, Kingsbury now realizes Vallejo would have helped.

For example, had the Cardinals moved Haason Reddick to outside linebacker in the preseason, they would not have needed to sign Cassius Marsh and they could have kept Vallejo. Potentially, they could have had better linebacker play.

Moving forward, Kingsbury believes Vallejo should get more playing time. He had a specific role on Sunday, coming in as a third inside linebacker when the Cardinals went with an eight-man front.

Perhaps he will be used in other situations this week.

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Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

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