Cardinals release CB Chris Jones, sign LB Ramik Wilson

A day after claiming cornerback Trevor Williams off waivers, the Arizona Cardinals released second-year corner Chris Jones on Wednesday.

Arizona also signed linebacker Ramik Wilson, a 2015 fourth-round pick by the Kansas City Chiefs. He played in 16 games for the Los Angeles Rams last season and tallied 35 tackles, two forced fumbles and two passes defensed.

Jones, who went undrafted out of Nebraska in 2018, had impressed throughout training camp and began the year as the No. 3 cornerback due to the suspension to Patrick Peterson and the injury to Robert Alford.

Jones played in nickel packages but saw his snaps decline every week. The 24-year-old recorded nine tackles and a pass defensed this season.

He appeared in 55 defensive snaps in Week 1 before that dipped to zero on Sunday during Arizona’s 26-23 win against the Cincinnati Bengals. Overall, he appeared in 34% of the defensive snaps and also contributed on 52% of the special teams snaps through five weeks of play.

Pro Football Focus graded Jones at 61.0 overall, which ranked tied for 59th among NFL corners.

While veteran and starter Tramaine Brock has also seen his dip in percentage of snaps, Kevin Peterson, a waiver pickup prior to Week 1, has earned more play in the last two weeks after getting a crash course in defensive coordinator Vance Joseph’s system.

Kevin Peterson played 70% of the defensive snaps against the Bengals this past weekend.

Whether it’s him or Brock who earns most the snaps beside rookie second-round pick and starter Byron Murphy, that group will need to make the most of a brief opportunity as the Cardinals search for their second- and third-best corners. The status of Williams’ quad injury that put him on IR with the Chargers puts his potential contributions likely on the backburner for the time being.

Patrick Peterson is able to return to the team after serving a six-game suspension for PED use after Arizona hosts the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.

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