Cardinals’ Bethea returns vs. Redskins after knee injury, forces fumble
Dec 17, 2017, 12:03 PM | Updated: 12:21 pm
Arizona Cardinals strong safety Antoine Bethea (41) breaks up a pass intended for Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
(AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Arizona Cardinals safety Antoine Bethea was questionable to return Sunday against the Washington Redskins after leaving the game with a knee injury in the second quarter, the team said.
He did return, then forced a fumble by the Redskins to cover for his quarterback, Blaine Gabbert, having thrown an interception in the red zone just seconds prior.
Cornerback Tramon Williams returned the fumble by tight end Vernon Davis to the Washington 33-yard line a play after Gabbert was picked off.
The 33-year-old Bethea, in his first season with the Cardinals, sat out of practice with a knee injury on Wednesday and was limited Thursday before returning to full action Friday. It is unknown whether that injury is related.
Second-year pro Harlan Miller briefly took Bethea’s place at safety before the veteran returned.
Bethea was sixth on Arizona’s roster with 51 tackles heading into the Week 15 game at FedExField and led the team with three interceptions on the season.
A three-time Pro Bowl safety in 2007, 2009 and 2014, Arizona signed Bethea in the offseason to add a veteran voice to the locker room after he spent his first eight NFL seasons (2006-13) with the Indianapolis Colts and last three years with the San Francisco 49ers.
