[ad_1]
The biggest media question for the Arizona Cardinals in their third regular season practice on Wednesday was about the future of Malcolm Butler.
The eight-year veteran cornerback Butler, 31, and projected Cardinals starter is reportedly dealing with a personal situation and might be leaning towards retirement.
“I would say it was a surprise,” Cardinal head coach Kliff Kingsbury said to reporters after Wednesday’s practice. “We all like Malcolm, like what he’s about and know he’s a really good player in this league, like I said, it was a personal decision of his.”
Kingsbury said Butler’s tentative retirement does not change the team’s game plan for their regular season opener at Tennessee Titans on Sept. 12.
“We’ll work through that throughout the next 24 hours with all the claims and waivers, things of that nature. But that’s an ongoing process,” Kingsbury said.
Kingsbury mentioned three of its four cornerbacks the coaching staff feels comfortable to start for their secondary: Scottsdale Saguaro alum and third-year player Byron Murphy Jr., nine-year veteran Robert Alford and Marco Wilson.
Alford and left guard Justin Pugh are expected to return later this week after being on the team’s Reserve/COVID-19 list.
“We’ll try to see what’s out there and go from there. We’re very confident in Alford, B-Murph, Marco and what we’ve seen so far from them,” Kingsbury said.
The Cardinals have also revealed Monday afternoon they have added two cornerbacks, Rasul Douglas and Antonio Hamilton, to the team’s practice squad, while communication is “always going to be open” with Butler and his representatives.
Douglas, who had 62 tackles and 11 starts through 14 game appearances last season for the Carolina Panthers, was cut by the Houston Texans on Tuesday. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers released Hamilton on Monday. Hamilton had 12 tackles in 16 games played for the Chiefs last season.
Lawrence sees improvement
Rashard Lawrence believes that the Arizona Cardinals defensive has vastly improved from the balance of off-season veteran additions such as J.J. Watt, Corey Peters for leadership and its youth for this season.
The second-year nose tackle and Louisiana State alum Lawrence also worked in the off-season with the Cardinals strength and conditioning coach Buddy Morris to become who Kingsbury said is now “bigger, stronger, faster” to complement the team’s defensive line.
Lawrence said he’s learned a lot from veteran NT Corey Peters compared to last season when he had a steep learning curve about playing nose tackle at the pro level. That’s mainly because the NFL didn’t have a preseason during the pandemic.
“I think it was definitely mental,” Lawrence said. “Coming from the SEC, it’s definitely ground and pound and you’re being physical and everything, but especially in our (NFC West) division, you have a lot of West Coast offenses and you have to understand what they like in their schemes and how to play those positions. It’s definitely not more physical. Everybody in the NFL is strong and talented, but it’s more about knowing, ‘OK, what is your job? What can I do and how can I get better at what the coaches are asking me to do.“
Keeping third-string QB in COVID era
As the NFL continues to have players pop up on COVID-19 lists, many teams including the Cardinals have added third string QBs to their depth chart rather than holding them on the practice squad.
Journeyman QB Colt McCoy, who been on five different NFL teams through 11 years, wasn’t cut from the Cardinals after staging solid performances in both of the Cardinals’ two preseason home games against the Dallas Cowboys and Kansas City Chiefs on Aug. 13 and 20. He went 6-of-7 for 69 yards against the Cowboys and 13-of-18 for 113 yards through three quarters against the Chiefs.”
Kingsbury discussed why he wanted McCoy along with last season’s second-string QB Chris Streveler behind Kyler Murray.
“Just the ability that it’s something we’re into for Kyler to have another guy who can do some of the things that we like to do with the quarterback, running game and things of that nature,” Kingsbury said. “Colt’s 34 (years old), I believe, and that’s not really his game anymore, but we think Strev’s earned it. He’s played at a high level, gotten better each year and we want him on the roster.”
Talking about practice squad
The Cardinals revealed their 10 practice squad players on Wednesday. Ten of the players were among the final roster cuts.
“Really guys that we believe in this COVID era can come in and be ready to go, know our system, can pick it up quickly and then we can put them in and still execute what we want to do,” Kingsbury said about the criteria for selecting the practice squad.
Here are the players added to the practice squad: (WRs Andre Baccellia and Greg Dortch, LB Kylie Fitts, OLs Sean Harlow and Koda Martin, TE Ross Travis, CB Jace Whittaker, Ss James Wiggins and Chris Banjo).
The team has been granted an international player practice squad exemption for tight end Bernhard Seikovits.
The Cardinals other practice squad member is DE Ron’Dell Carter, according to reports.
Have tips for us? Reach the reporter at [email protected] or at 480-486-4721. Follow his Twitter @iam_DanaScott.
Support local journalism. Start your online subscription today.
[ad_2]
Source link