Arizona Cardinals add former Pro Bowl corner Mike Jenkins
Jul 19, 2016, 8:12 AM | Updated: Jul 20, 2016, 10:30 am
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Corey Brown, left, reaches for a pass as Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Mike Jenkins, right, defends in the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016. The pass was incomplete. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
(AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Already owning a loaded and experienced secondary, the Arizona Cardinals decided to add another veteran to the group.
The Cardinals have signed cornerback Mike Jenkins.
Jenkins, a former Pro Bowler, has 244 combined tackles, 10 interceptions, 54 passes defensed and two forced fumbles in 101 NFL games.
“Physical guy for a corner,” general manager Steve Keim said Tuesday while attending a D-backs’ game, where he threw out the first pitch. “Certainly has the length and athleticism you look for. He’s had some up-and-down years in the NFL, but what we do schematically, having a bigger press corner, certainly creates more competition at that position. That’s really been our goal is continue to stay aggressive, build our roster.”
Starting off strong in the league after getting drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in 2008, the last two seasons haven’t been Jenkins’ best by any means. In 2014, Jenkins played just one game before being placed on injured reserve with a torn pectoral muscle.
Last season, Jenkins played the majority of the season, but was only able to manage 17 tackles and five passes defensed his 14 games. He started five of those contests.
Jenkins was the 25th overall pick by the Cowboys out of South Florida. He made a quick impact as he was honored with a Pro Bowl selection in just his second year in the league in 2009. That season, Jenkins started 15 games and tallied five interceptions, to go along with 19 passes defensed.
Besides playing five seasons with the Cowboys and two seasons with the Buccaneers, Jenkins also played one season for the Oakland Raiders in 2013.
In a corresponding move, the Cardinals released cornerback Carrington Byndom Tuesday.
