Tag: Tanner Vallejo

Report: Cardinals re-sign LB Tanner Vallejo to 2-year contract

Linebacker Tanner Vallejo had 15 special teams tackles in 2020, sharing the team lead, and he also was productive in limited snaps on defense.

The Arizona Cardinals began what could be a number of player re-signings before the start of free agency. The first is not Patrick Peterson, Haason Reddick or Kenyan Drake.

The first player to re-sign is reserve linebacker and special teams ace Tanner Vallejo.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, he rejoins the team on a two-year deal with $4.1 million.

Vallejo shared the team lead in special teams tackles in 2020 with 15. He also played some on defense and was productive in limited playing time. He played 96 defensive snaps and had 26 tackles and a sack.

Vallejo first joined the team in the 2019 offseason as a waiver claim. He did not make the team initially in 2019 but was re-signed later and played some. He made the team in 2020 as a core special teams player but has proven he can be counted on when called upon on defense.

He is one of many core special teams players who will be free agents next week. Getting him back will solidify that unit and he also might see some playing time in 2021 on defense.

The starting inside linebackers are expected to be Jordan Hicks and 2020 No. 8 overall pick Isaiah Simmons. However, Simmons will likely see playing time at multiple positions, meaning the Cardinals could use another linebacker on the field. That could be Vallejo’s role. At $4.1 million over two seasons, it is a contract for someone who is expected to do more than just play special teams.

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Special teams unit could look quite different for Cardinals in 2021

Their kickers, punter and seven of their top special teams players are all scheduled to be free agents this offseason.

The Arizona Cardinals have had stability in their special teams unit over the last couple of seasons. That could change this offseason.

Almost all their top special teams players are free agents.

Kicker Zane Gonzalez and punter Andy Lee are scheduled to be free agents. There is question as to whether the Cardinals want Gonzalez back, but his late-season replacement, Mike Nugent, is also a free agent.

Trent Sherfield, Dennis Gardeck, Ezekiel Turner, Chris Banjo, D.J. Foster and Charles Washington, all of whom have been core special teams in almost all their special teams units, are all scheduled to hit free agency.

Sherfield, Gardeck and Turner are restricted free agents. Gardeck is also recovering from a torn ACL.

If you also add Tanner Vallejo, who also will be a free agent, all their field goals, punts and 67 of their special teams tackles this season are all going to be free agents.

Aside from Gonzalez’ struggles last year in the kicking game, special teams has been pretty strong. That might change if they lose too many of these key contributors this offseason.

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Cardinals place Tanner Vallejo, Kevin Peterson on IR; make flurry of roster moves

They add three to the roster, place two on IR and add two to the practice squad.

Michael Chow/The Rep

The Arizona Cardinals made a number of rosters moves Wednesday leading up to the start of practice in Week 16 to prepare for the Seattle Seahawks. They placed two players on injured reserve, signed two players and added a pair to the practice squad.

Linebacker Tanner Vallejo’s stint with the Cardinals didn’t last long. After playing two games, he was placed on injured reserve with an injury to his ribs. Cornerback Kevin Peterson was also placed on IR with a shoulder injury.

With these two moves and the release of Terrell Suggs last Friday, they had three roster spots to fill.

They promoted linebacker Vontarrius Dora to the 53-man roster and poached a pair of players off other teams’ practice squads. They signed cornerback Andre Chachere off the Carolina Panthers’ practice squad and linebacker Keishawn Bierria off the Jacksonville Jaguars’ practice squad.

They also added cornerback Duke Thomas and linebacker Jamey Mosley to the practice squad.

For the bios of the new players, as given by the team in a press release, go to the next pages.

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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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Studs and duds for the Cardinals in 23-17 loss to the Steelers

Tanner Vallejo and others stood out. Terrell Suggs did not.

The Arizona Cardinals lost for the sixth game in a row on Sunday, a 23-17 defeat to the Pittsburgh Steelers. They had some solid play from some of their players while others did not produce much.

Who were the studs and duds in the loss on Sunday?

Stud: LB Tanner Vallejo

(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Vallejo only played 16 snaps but was very productive. Playing in a new defensive package the team rolled out with three inside linebackers, he had five tackles (one for loss), a sack, a forced fumble and a QB hit.

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Cardinals sign DL Caraun Reid, promote Kylie Fitts, Tanner Vallejo to active roster

The Cardinals also released Pete Robertson.

The Arizona Cardinals made some roster moves Wednesday as they began the week of practice in Week 14. They had two open roster spots after waiving cornerback Tramaine Brock and running back Zach Zenner on Monday. They added a third vacancy by releasing linebacker Pete Robertson, who spent most of the season on the practice squad and promoted in November.

To fill those vacancies, they promoted two from the practice squad and signed a veteran.

They signed veteran defensive lineman Caraun Reid, as Jonathan Bullard is expected to miss a couple of weeks with a hamstring injury.

Reid has not been in the league this year. It is his sixth NFL season and he has played for the Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Chargers and Dallas Cowboys. He has played in 44 career games, starting 13. He has 46 career tackles, 3.5 sacks, a forced fumble and two fumbles recoveries, both of which he returned for touchdowns.

The Cardinals promoted linebackers Tanner Vallejo and Kylie Fitts from the practice squad to the active roster.

Vallejo was signed to the practice squad last month after he was released by the Washington Redskins. He played nine games for them after he was released after the preseason by the Cardinals. He plays inside linebacker.

Fitts has been on the practice squad all season. He was a sixth-round pick of the Chicago Bears in 2018 and played in seven games as a rookie. He is a 6-4, 260-pound outside linebacker.

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Cardinals bring back LB Tanner Vallejo to practice squad

He was released last week by the Washington Redskins.

The Arizona Cardinals players are off for the rest of the week but the front office has made a move on the practice squad. On Wednesday the team announced that linebacker Tanner Vallejo was signed to the practice squad.

Vallejo spent the offseason and the preseason with the team after being acquired via waivers. He was cut before the season began and claimed by the Washington Redskins.

He appeared in nine games for the Redskins before being released last week.

To make room for Vallejo, the Cardinals released offensive lineman Ian Silberman from the practice squad.

The addition of Vallejo gives the Cardinals six inside linebackers between the active roster and practice squad. This move could be because there is an injury at the position that could affect practice time or simply they wanted Vallejo back but didn’t have room for him at the start of the season.

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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