Cardinals place safety Deionte Thompson on reserve/COVID-19 list
Nov 24, 2020, 2:51 PM | Updated: 8:25 pm
Arizona Cardinals safety Deionte Thompson (22) tackles Detroit Lions tight end T.J. Hockenson (88) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
The Arizona Cardinals announced Tuesday they have placed safety Deionte Thompson on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
Thompson, 23, has been Arizona’s third-string safety this season, a role that has led to him starting in the middle of the year. That was due to starting safety Jalen Thompson injuring his ankle, followed by backup safety Chris Banjo dealing with a hamstring issue.
Deionte Thompson went on to start four games before the return of Banjo and Jalen Thompson moved him back down the pecking order.
Jalen Thompson, though, re-injured that ankle against the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday and is expected to miss at least a week or two, according to defensive coordinator Vance Joseph.
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Banjo replaced him in that game, and with both Thompsons out, he figures to start alongside Budda Baker. Beyond those two names starting, Charles Washington is the only other safety on the Cardinals’ 53-man roster.
Arizona’s defense has been ravaged by injuries, playing from behind in training camp when cornerback Robert Alford was ruled out the rest of the year. Defensive lineman Corey Peters is out for the season, as is pass rusher Chandler Jones, while defensive lineman Jordan Phillips was just placed on injured reserve prior to the game against Seattle. He joins his position mate Leki Fotu on injured reserve as well.
That group did receive a boost Tuesday, however, when defensive lineman Zach Allen was designated to return from injured reserve.
Deionte Thompson becomes the fourth Cardinals player to be on the list after wide receiver KeeSean Johnson, cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. and pass rusher Devon Kennard.
