Cardinals re-sign LB Philip Wheeler, release Scooby Wright
Sep 11, 2017, 1:12 PM | Updated: 3:27 pm
New England Patriots' Julian Edelman is up ended by Atlanta Falcons' Philip Wheeler, during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 51 football game Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
(AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
The Arizona Cardinals re-signed linebacker Philip Wheeler and released Scooby Wright on Monday.
Arizona released Wheeler, 32, on Friday and signed Wright to the 53-man roster. As a veteran, Wheeler’s contract of $695,000 would have been guaranteed for the entire year had the team not waived him.
If the player is not on the roster for the game he only earns a partial guarantee that is equal to 25% of his salary, 4 weeks of pay. https://t.co/5phiuITlHC
— Mike Jurecki (@mikejurecki) September 8, 2017
Wright, a seventh-round draft pick by the Cleveland Browns, joined the Cardinals in December 2016 and was cut by Arizona before the 53-man roster was announced this year. The team re-signed him to its practice squad before elevating him last week for the Week 1 game at Detroit.
Wheeler originally joined the Cardinals on July 27 and impressed in the preseason.
The nine-year NFL veteran has 513 tackles, 133 games and 66 starts for the Colts, Raiders, Dolphins and Falcons on his resume. Last season for Atlanta, he recorded 28 tackles in 16 appearances.
Wheeler adds depth at inside linebacker, where the team is still missing $LB Deone Bucannon, who while recovering from ankle surgery sprained his ankle before the opener.
Adding to his value, Wheeler also played outside linebacker in the preseason finale.
