CB Robert Alford officially in COVID-19 protocols Thursday

GLENDALE — The Arizona Cardinals were without cornerback Robert Alford for Wednesday’s edition of training camp as the team assessed whether he was headed to the COVID-19 protocols, and on Thursday head coach Kliff Kingsbury confirmed Alford is headed for the reserve list.

Alford is vaccinated, according to Kingsbury, which would help him return more quickly.

While missing time is never a good thing, Cardinals fans can breathe a sigh of relief regarding the absence given Alford’s first two years in Arizona.

Signing on with the Cardinals as a free agent in 2018, Alford was expected to shore up the secondary with Patrick Peterson.

Instead, Alford suffered a broken leg during training camp that year, effectively ending his season before it even started.

The following year was a similar scenario, with Alford suffering a torn pectoral. He did not see a snap in 2020.

His future with Arizona was seemingly up in the air following the conclusion of last season, with the team eventually releasing the cornerback in a move to save cap space.

Alford’s stint in the desert wasn’t quite over. He re-signed with the Cardinals on a one-year deal this offseason.

With Alford sidelined, the Cardinals brought back cornerback Luq Barcoo on Wednesday, Kingsbury confirmed after practice.

Barcoo was waived/failed physical on Monday after the team claimed the cornerback off waivers from the Jacksonville Jaguars last Friday.

In three games (one start) last season, Barcoo recorded 10 tackles and a pass defensed.

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