Cardinals add vet CB Rasul Douglas, return 10 to practice squad

Beginning to plug the cornerback void left by Malcolm Butler’s sudden retirement, the Arizona Cardinals have agreed to add Rasul Douglas and Antonio Hamilton to the practice squad Wednesday, reports Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro.

The Cardinals have the option to flex two players off the practice squad to the gameday roster each week, and Douglas especially could be a candidate to be one of those players.

The team additionally announced the addition of return of 10 other players to the practice squad who had spent time with the Cardinals in training camp.

Cardinals practice squad tracker

CB Rasul Douglas (Report: Gambadoro and Wilson)

CB Antonio Hamilton (Report: Gambadoro)

DE Ron’Dell Carter (Report: Wilson and Dallas Morning News’ Michael Gehlken)

WR Andre Baccellia

S Chris Banjo

WR Greg Dortch

LB Kylie Fitts

OL Sean Harlow

OL Koda Martin

TE Ross Travis

CB Jace Whittaker

S James Wiggins

TE Bernhard Seikovits (international player exemption)

Douglas is the most notable name considering his experience.

He is entering his fifth NFL season and played his first three years (2017-19) with the Philadelphia Eagles. A 2017 third-round pick, he appeared in 46 games over that span and recorded five total interceptions, all in his first two seasons.

Douglas tallied a career-high 62 tackles and added nine passes defensed in 2020 with the Carolina Panthers.

Douglas, listed at 6-foot-2 and 209 pounds, plays mostly on the outside and took the fourth-most defensive snaps for the Panthers last year. He posted a 60.2 grade on Pro Football Focus.

He joined the Texans on Aug. 24 before being released Tuesday.

Hamilton went undrafted in 2016. He spent his first two years playing sparingly for the then-Oakland Raiders and then spent 2018-19 with the New York Giants. He appeared in 16 games with the Kansas City Chiefs last season, playing 135 total snaps on defense but acting as a regular special-teamer.

He joined the reigning Super Bowl champion Buccaneers in May.

Douglas and Hamilton join a cornerback room that includes veterans Byron Murphy,  Robert Alford and Luq Barcoo, plus rookie draft picks Marco Wilson and Tay Gowan. Darqueze Dennard is additionally on injured reserve to start the year.

Arizona signed Butler as a free agent this offseason and expected him to start. He had not participated at practice after training camp wrapped last week and began mulling retirement, reportedly due to personal reasons.

The Cardinals placed him on the retired list Tuesday as they made roster cuts.

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