Cardinals sign OT Khalif Barnes, add Jared Veldheer to IR
Dec 12, 2017, 2:42 PM
New Orleans Saints offensive tackle Khalif Barnes (69) leaves the field after an NFL preseason football game against the Cleveland Browns, Thursday, Aug. 10, 2017, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
(AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
The Arizona Cardinals signed free agent offensive tackle Khalif Barnes and placed starting left tackle Jared Veldheer on the injured reserve list Tuesday.
Veldheer suffered a fractured ankle in the Cardinals’ 12-7 win over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday and will miss the rest of the season.
Barnes, 35, was cut by the New Orleans Saints before the regular season began. He has 117 starts in his NFL career having spent his time with the Jacksonville Jaguars (2005-08) and Oakland Raiders (2009-15). He was a second-round pick out of Washington by the Jaguars in 2005.
Barnes could become an option to play at left tackle with rookie Will Holden presumed to take over for Veldheer prior to the move on Tuesday.
In any case, the Cardinals will start their fourth left tackle in a Week 15 game at Washington. Arizona lost D.J. Humphries for the season due to a dislocated kneecap before Veldheer’s injury. A prior injury to Humphries early in the year saw John Wetzel start at left tackle.
