ARIZONA CARDINALS

Chris Hubert leaves job at UPS after getting call from the Cardinals

Oct 26, 2016, 5:56 PM | Updated: Oct 28, 2016, 11:25 am

Arizona Cardinals' Chris Hubert works on a drill  during NFL football practice, Tuesday, May 24, 20...

Arizona Cardinals' Chris Hubert works on a drill during NFL football practice, Tuesday, May 24, 2016, at the team's training facility in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

(AP Photo/Matt York)

TEMPE, Ariz. — Since being released by the Cardinals on Sept. 13, Chris Hubert said he spent time working out and catching passes from a JUG machine with his father.

He had also, recently, gotten a job.

“I actually had gotten a job with UPS,” he said Wednesday. “I worked there for seven days before I got a call to come back yesterday.”

The call was from the Cardinals, who on Tuesday re-signed Hubert to their practice squad. The next day he was elevated to the 53-man roster.

Hubert did not quit his job, as he told them he had to take some time off.

“I may be back, but hopefully I won’t (be),” he said, adding that his situation was understood.

How could it not be? Hubert is not the first player to keep chasing his dream while at the same time in part live his life as if that next chance will never come.

“It’s just crazy,” he said. “I’m learning every day how the business goes, just how at any time your number can be called. You’ve just got to be ready, that’s what I tried to do. It’s a great feeling, really.”

Hubert said he was hoping to hold off on getting a regular job, because he had a feeling the Cardinals would give him a call at some point.

“I just didn’t know when,” he said.

Then, the phone rang.

“It’s been great, getting the call to come back and then being able to be active, it’s a true blessing,” he said.

Hubert said he was informed right before practice that he was going to be active.

“So yeah, I’m really happy, really excited,” he added.

The 5-foot-9, 170-pound Hubert was a surprise star in the early parts of training camp, coming down with long catches seemingly every day. The undrafted rookie free agent from Fayetteville State made the team’s practice squad out of camp, but was released after Week 1 as the Cardinals looked to add more size at the position.

Arians said they liked him from his time with the team earlier in the season.

“He’s bright,” the coach said. “He’s a dual-position guy, so he could give us depth for Sunday.”

The Cardinals turned to Hubert because they may be a bit shorthanded at receiver, with Jaron Brown now on IR, John Brown working his way back and Michael Floyd dealing with a hamstring injury.

As a senior last year, Hubert caught 71 passes for 862 yards and 13 touchdowns, and his training camp performance turned some heads.

Hubert said as of Wednesday he was not sure what kind of role he would have with the team this week or going forward, but he should be in uniform Sunday when the Cardinals visit the Panthers. Hubert is from Raleigh, so the chance to be active for the first time in a game in his home state is a blessing, he said.

“Really, just to be able to go back home and be active for the first time, on the 53, it’s a dream come true,” he said.

Arizona Sports’ Craig Grialou contributed to this report

Presented By
Western Governors University

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.
comments powered by Disqus

Arizona Cardinals

Desmond Ridder runs the rock against Houston...

Tyler Drake

Desmond Ridder eager to remind fellow Cardinals QB Clayton Tune about college wins

Cardinals quarterback Desmond Ridder may not know Kyler Murray just yet, but he and Clayton Tune go way back.

18 hours ago

LSU's Malik Nabers, a top NFL Draft prospect...

Kevin Zimmerman

NFL Draft: Malik Nabers to visit Arizona Cardinals after LSU pro day, per report

Top NFL Draft receiver prospect Malik Nabers will reportedly visit with the Arizona Cardinals after the LSU Tigers' pro day.

22 hours ago

Desmond Ridder looks to pass...

Tyler Drake

QB1 or not, Desmond Ridder keeping starter mentality with Cardinals

New Cardinals QB Desmond Ridder is focused on using the good and the bad from his first two seasons rather than listening to outside chatter.

2 days ago

Jonathan Gannon and Kyler Murray look on...

Tyler Drake

Cardinals’ Jonathan Gannon: Kyler Murray’s ‘best football is ahead of him’

Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon believes Kyler Murray will continue taking the necessary steps forward with a full offseason of work.

2 days ago

Kyler Murray chats with Jonathan Gannon...

Arizona Sports

Arizona Cardinals will face ‘really good’ AFC opponent for joint preseason practices

The Arizona Cardinals expect to hold joint practices in the preseason against a really good AFC opponent, in the words of Jonathan Gannon.

2 days ago

Patriots and Cardinals kick off return in 2020...

Associated Press

NFL owners approve new kickoff rules for 2024

NFL kickoff rules will take on a hybrid approach similar to the XFL. League owners approved the new measures Tuesday.

2 days ago

Chris Hubert leaves job at UPS after getting call from the Cardinals