Clinton McDonald signs with Cardinals, brings depth at DL

Tenth-year defensive tackle Clinton McDonald signed with the Arizona Cardinals on Monday, a week after working out for the team.

Arizona also announced Monday that it added defensive lineman Siupeli Anau, a Horizon High School and Northern Arizona product who has been with the Cardinals in three separate stints spanning 2017 and 2018.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported McDonald worked out for Arizona last Monday but did not come to terms with the 32-year-old, who last year played for the Oakland Raiders.

McDonald remained productive as a reserve over 15 games in 2018, recording 31 tackles, 2.0 sacks and four tackles for loss. The 2009 seventh-round pick by the Cincinnati Bengals has also played for the Seattle Seahawks (2011-13) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2014-17).

His signing comes a day after Oakland announced it had signed veteran defensive tackle Corey Liuget, who had also visited with Arizona as a free agent.

McDonald brings experience to an interior line that’s been hit hard by offseason departures.

The Cardinals released 2016 first-round pick Robert Nkemdiche due to offseason traffic incidents, past lack of productive and the tackle showing up to training camp out of shape. They also signed but ended up releasing defensive end Darius Philon, who was arrested on allegations of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

That left Arizona with rookie third-round pick Zach Allen as the starting defensive end and with little size or experience behind nose tackle Corey Peterson and defensive end Rodney Gunter. Veteran Terrell McClain and rookie seventh-round pick Michael Dogbe are listed on the current depth chart as the backup defensive ends, while undrafted rookie Miles Brown is the backup to Peters in the middle.

Also along the defensive line as the preseason reaches its end is familiar practice squad face Pasoni Tasini, second-year pro Sterling Bailey and Bruce Hector, who was acquired from the Philadelphia Eagles via trade this past week.

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