Arizona Cardinals sign offensive lineman Ryan Pope
Aug 4, 2021, 1:34 PM
Denver Broncos guard Quinn Meinerz, left, squares off against tackle Ryan Pope during a drill at the NFL football team's rookie minicamp Saturday, May 15, 2021, in Englewood, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Offensive lineman Ryan Pope signed with the Arizona Cardinals on Wednesday, the team announced.
The 6-foot-7, 315-pound tackle has played for the 49ers, Jaguars, Packers, Lions and Broncos, mostly as a practice squad member.
He went undrafted out of San Diego State.
With the Aztecs, Pope appeared in 36 games and was a Second Team All-Mountain West member his senior season in 2018.
Pope played both tackle positions in college.
The Cardinals return their 2020 starters along the offensive line but could be adding Pope as a camp body, at the least. Free agent addition Brian Winters is currently sidelined due to a minor issue, according to head coach Kliff Kingsbury, who added that Winters is expected to miss a couple of weeks.
Winters’ absence will give Justin Murray, who started at right guard last year, an extended chance to win the job. Second-year pro Josh Jones could also see more guard reps, potentially moving him out of some reps at right tackle, the position he was drafted to play.
