ARIZONA CARDINALS

Cardinals make 6 moves: Kennard, Murphy cleared of COVID-19

Nov 11, 2020, 9:35 AM

New York Jets quarterback Joe Flacco (5) dives for yardage while under pressure from Arizona Cardin...

New York Jets quarterback Joe Flacco (5) dives for yardage while under pressure from Arizona Cardinals cornerback Byron Murphy (33) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in East Rutherford. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

(AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

The Arizona Cardinals announced six roster moves on Wednesday morning, and most of them were good news as far as the depth chart is concerned.

— The team activated outside linebacker Devon Kennard and cornerback Byron Murphy off COVID-19 reserve. They were placed on the list Nov. 2.

— Veteran cornerback Johnathan Joseph is signed after GM Steve Keim alluded to interest in him last Friday.

— Corner Kevin Peterson has been placed on IR with a concussion. That mean’s he’s out for at least three weeks.

— Defensive tackle Rashard Lawrence and guard J.R. Sweezy are designated to return from IR, meaning they can practice and the team has 21 days to activate them to the 53-man roster.

Head coach Kliff Kingsbury said the Cardinals expected Kennard and Murphy to be activated in his Wednesday morning press conference. Their presences will be felt — Murphy’s especially.

Arizona’s 34-31 loss to the Miami Dolphins came with Patrick Peterson and Kevin Peterson starting at cornerback.

The team got into its nickel packages with newly signed De’Vante Bausby and undrafted rookie Jace Whittaker making their Cardinals debuts.

Arizona waived Bausby on Monday and he was promptly picked up by his former team, the Denver Broncos, on the waiver wire.

The Cardinals remain thin at cornerback as they await a return of cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick, who missed the Miami game with a thigh issue.

With that, Joseph being signed to the active roster will give Arizona insurance, even with Murphy back.

“We’re always trying to look ahead and he’s a guy at a position that’s extremely hard to find,” Keim told Arizona Sports’ Doug & Wolf on Friday. “He’s got a ton of experience in this league and his ability to play man coverage with natural anticipation is something — just from watching the film — he does a really nice job.

“Really good anticipating the ball from playing off, tackles and is a tough player.”

Joseph was released by the Tennessee Titans last week but produced 29 tackles, an interception and five passes defensed in seven games this season.

Also helping a depleted defensive group, Kennard returns to join Markus Golden and Haason Reddick at the top of the outside linebacker rotation. Lawrence’s potential return from a calf injury in the next few weeks gives the Cardinals another body inside, as the rookie fourth-round pick had carved out a backup role inside.

And on offense, Sweezy’s return from an elbow injury would allow him to slide back in at right guard. Justin Murray has filled in there the past three games.

Arizona Cardinals

Super Bowl NFL...

Dan Bickley

Lessons from the 2024 NFL season, and what the Cardinals need to flourish

Monti Ossenfort needs to pull the right levers, signing high-end talent in free agency and drafting impact players just like the Eagles did in 2024.

8 hours ago

Arizona Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort looks on. It's officially NFL mock draft season with Arizona's...

Tyler Drake

NFL mock draft tracker: What will Cardinals do with No. 16 pick?

A look across the NFL mock draft landscape when it comes to the Arizona Cardinals' No. 16 overall pick in this year's draft.

18 hours ago

Chiefs Eagles...

Associated Press

Eagles deny the Chiefs a Super Bowl 3-peat with dominant defense in rout

The Chiefs didn't come close to completing their 3-peat, as the Eagles' dominant defense led Philadelphia to a rout and Super Bowl victory.

1 day ago

Cooper DeJean...

Damon Allred

Eagles stun Chiefs with pick-6, shutout first half in Super Bowl

Cooper DeJean had more yards on his pick-six than Patrick Mahomes had to his own team as the Philadelphia Eagles blitzed the Kansas City Chiefs to a shutout first half.

1 day ago

Aaron Rodgers...

Associated Press

Jets tell Aaron Rodgers they’re ‘moving on’ from the QB for next season, report says

Aaron Rodgers is still contemplating whether to continue his playing career. If he does, it appears it won’t be with the New York Jets.

1 day ago

The Chiefs try to make history against the Eagles by winning a third consecutive Super Bowl, this t...

Associated Press

Chiefs aim to make history in city where they won their first Super Bowl

The Chiefs will try to make history against the Eagles by winning a third consecutive Super Bowl, this time in the same city where they won their first.

2 days ago

Cardinals make 6 moves: Kennard, Murphy cleared of COVID-19