Cardinals place OL Justin Pugh on IR for season, release S Eddie Pleasant
Nov 13, 2018, 2:52 PM
Arizona Cardinals offensive guard Justin Pugh (67) is tended to by trainers during the second half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
(AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
The Arizona Cardinals placed starting right guard Justin Pugh on the injured reserve list Tuesday, ending his season at the mercy of a torn MCL in his left knee.
Arizona also released safety Eddie Pleasant and practice squad wide receiver Montay Crockett.
No replacements for the three roster spots — two of which are on the 53-man — were announced as of Tuesday afternoon.
Pugh, who signed with the Cardinals on a five-year deal this offseason, injured his knee Sunday in a 26-14 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. He appeared in seven of the Cardinals’ nine games thus far, missing Weeks 7-8 due to a hand injury.
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The 28-year-old has not played a full season since his rookie year in 2013 and has not played more than half a season in the past two years. Pugh joins starting center A.Q. Shipley and backup guard/tackle John Wetzel as the other offensive lineman on the IR.
Oday Aboushi and Jeremy Vujnovich will be tasked with stepping up in place of Pugh and, potentially, guard Mike Iupati, who missed the Chiefs game due to a back injury.
Pleasant, a seven-year NFL veteran, joined the Cardinals before the bye week as insurance following the injury to starting safety Tre Boston. He appeared in one game and recorded a tackle.
Crockett is in his first season out of Georgia Southern and was added to the Arizona practice squad on Wednesday.
