ARIZONA CARDINALS

Cardinals S Jalen Thompson activated from IR designated for return list

Nov 4, 2020, 9:00 AM | Updated: 9:08 am

Jalen Thompson (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)...

Jalen Thompson (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

The Arizona Cardinals on Wednesday activated safety Jalen Thompson from the injured reserve designated for return list, lining him up to play Sunday against the Miami Dolphins.

Thompson played two snaps in the season opener and injured his ankle against the San Francisco 49ers. Arizona placed him on the IR on Sept. 17.

As a rookie, Thompson played catch-up last season following the Cardinals selecting him in the supplemental draft just before training camp began.

He was starting alongside Pro Bowler Budda Baker by the end of the season and wrapped his rookie campaign with 63 tackles, an interception, a fumble recovery and three passes defensed.

Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph credited Thompson for limiting explosive plays by Arizona’s opponents.

“We gave up a lot of big plays last year in the middle of the defense early on,” Joseph said during training camp. “When that kid played, those plays stopped happening. They went from 40-yard gains to 15-yard gains. So his trait is how fast he plays and how well he tackles.”

Veteran Chris Banjo replaced Thompson in the season opener but during his second game as a starter went down with his own injury.

Second-year safety Deionte Thompson, a 2019 fifth-round pick, filled in from there. He played in more than 85% of the snaps over the course of Arizona’s current three-game winning streak.

Thompson is the second starter lifted from the injured reserve designated for return list coming out of Arizona’s bye week. Tight end Maxx Williams was activated on Monday.

Presented By
Western Governors University

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.
comments powered by Disqus

Arizona Cardinals

Desmond Ridder runs the rock against Houston...

Tyler Drake

Desmond Ridder eager to remind fellow Cardinals QB Clayton Tune about college wins

Cardinals quarterback Desmond Ridder may not know Kyler Murray just yet, but he and Clayton Tune go way back.

13 hours ago

LSU's Malik Nabers, a top NFL Draft prospect...

Kevin Zimmerman

NFL Draft: Malik Nabers to visit Arizona Cardinals after LSU pro day, per report

Top NFL Draft receiver prospect Malik Nabers will reportedly visit with the Arizona Cardinals after the LSU Tigers' pro day.

16 hours ago

Desmond Ridder looks to pass...

Tyler Drake

QB1 or not, Desmond Ridder keeping starter mentality with Cardinals

New Cardinals QB Desmond Ridder is focused on using the good and the bad from his first two seasons rather than listening to outside chatter.

1 day ago

Jonathan Gannon and Kyler Murray look on...

Tyler Drake

Cardinals’ Jonathan Gannon: Kyler Murray’s ‘best football is ahead of him’

Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon believes Kyler Murray will continue taking the necessary steps forward with a full offseason of work.

2 days ago

Kyler Murray chats with Jonathan Gannon...

Arizona Sports

Arizona Cardinals will face ‘really good’ AFC opponent for joint preseason practices

The Arizona Cardinals expect to hold joint practices in the preseason against a really good AFC opponent, in the words of Jonathan Gannon.

2 days ago

Patriots and Cardinals kick off return in 2020...

Associated Press

NFL owners approve new kickoff rules for 2024

NFL kickoff rules will take on a hybrid approach similar to the XFL. League owners approved the new measures Tuesday.

2 days ago

Cardinals S Jalen Thompson activated from IR designated for return list