82 days till the Cardinals’ 2022 season opener vs. Chiefs

Have a look at some of the players to wear No. 82 over the years.

On this fine Tuesday in June, we are 82 days from the start of the Arizona Cardinals’ 2022 season. In 82 days, they will take the field at State Farm Stadium in Week 1 to face the Kansas City Chiefs.

No. 82 belongs to speedy receiver Andre Baccellia for the second year in a row. He spent last season on the practice squad.

He and others to wear No. 82 for the Cardinals over the years are below.

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Chiefs waive WRs Aleva Hifo, Andre Baccellia

These transactions in Kansas City make way for the return of Marcus Kemp and likely the forthcoming signing of Adrian Colbert.

The Kansas City Chiefs have waived a pair of rookie undrafted free agent receivers on Wednesday. According to the NFL’s official transaction report, WR Aleva Hifo and WR Andre Baccellia have both been waived. It was noted in the transaction report that Baccellia had a partially guaranteed contract.

This is the second time that Hifo has been waived by the team. He was recently brought back following the roster move to send Alex Brown to injured reserve. Hifo was initially waived by the team after having been the only member of the team to reportedly test positive for COVID-19 and end up on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

Both Baccellia and Hifo signed with the Chiefs following the 2020 NFL Draft. Baccellia played college football for the Washington Huskies, while Hifo played for the BYU Cougars. Both players were considered exceptional athletes and were in the mix as the Chiefs look to add a return specialist.

Now, the Chiefs have just three receivers remaining from their 2020 class of undrafted free agents with Kalija Lipscomb, Justice Shelton-Mosley and Maurice Ffrench. The competition among this group is getting fiercer with each passing day.

The releases of Baccellia and Hifo makes way for the re-signing of Marcus Kemp, who previously spent 16 games during the 2018 season on the 53-man roster in Kansas City. The Chiefs also have one more roster spot available, presumably for the forthcoming signing of DB Adrian Colbert.

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How undrafted WR Andre Baccellia ended up signing with Chiefs

Andre Baccellia’s story tells us just how prepared the Kansas City Chiefs were for undrafted free agency.

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The Kansas City Chiefs signed Washington Huskies WR Andre Baccellia as one of their 18 undrafted free agent signings.

His path to Kansas City was a unique one.

In a typical pre-draft process, Baccellia’s blazing 4.28 40-yard dash would have earned recognition and interest across the NFL. It was just a second shy of the time that No. 12 overall draft pick Henry Ruggs III ran at the combine. Baccellia’s filmed pro day, done in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, didn’t have the same effect.

“It’s not the same as having 32 scouts there,” Baccellia told Ventura County Star reporter Joe Curley.

While 32 scouts weren’t in attendance for Baccellia’s pro day, it was still enough to draw the interest of the Super Bowl-winning Chiefs. It follows that line of thinking that Las Vegas Raiders GM Mike Mayock hammered home after the draft.

“Let’s be honest, the entire league is chasing the Kansas City Chiefs,” said Mayock. “But we’re in the same division. They keep getting faster and more athletic, more dynamic every time you turn around. Other teams have to do the same.”

The 5-foot-10 and 175-pound Baccellia adds yet another dynamic player with elite speed to the Chiefs’ ever-growing arsenal. His production wouldn’t necessarily tell you that, catching 29 passes for 314 yards and four touchdowns as a senior with the Huskies. But the production also wouldn’t tell you that Chiefs’ second-round pick Willie Gay Jr. is an elite athlete. Kansas City had to do their homework, looking at Baccellia’s entire body of work, including his virtual pro day.

At the end of the day that interest the Chiefs showed mattered. Because when the Jacksonville Jaguars came calling during the seventh round of the 2020 NFL draft, Baccellia opted to wait and sign with the Chiefs. He received a better contract and what he felt was a better opportunity.

“There’s a lot of speed on that team and I want to contribute to that,” Baccellia told the VC Star of joining the Chiefs.

Sure enough, in a league that now covets speed and finds itself chasing the Chiefs, Baccellia will get his chance to contribute as a part of a speedy wide receiver group in Kansas City.

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