Cardinals activate Robert Alford off COVID-19 list, sign 7 to practice squad
Sep 3, 2021, 1:57 PM
Arizona Cardinals CB Robert Alford catches a pass during the team’s practice Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019, at State Farm Stadium. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports)
(Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports)
The Arizona Cardinals activated cornerback Robert Alford off the reserve/COVID-19 list on Friday.
Additionally, the team signed seven players to the practice squad.
Alford returns to the team after being placed under COVID-19 protocols on Aug. 26.
The cornerback was originally slated behind Malcolm Butler on the Cardinals’ preseason depth chart. But after Butler’s sudden decision to retire, Alford moves into an even more prominent role alongside Byron Murphy and rookie Marco Wilson.
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Alford has yet to see any NFL action since joining the Cardinals in 2019 due to two season-ending injuries during training camp over the previous two years. He was released this offseason, but was re-signed days later.
When healthy, Alford has shown he can aid a secondary, recording 10 interceptions and 85 passes defensed across six seasons with the Atlanta Falcons.
Of the seven players the Cardinals signed to the practice squad Friday, rookie offensive lineman Michal Menet was the only one to have spent time with Arizona this offseason.
The seventh-rounder out of Penn State was released during the team’s first round of cuts on Monday.
The Cardinals will also have a chance to get a look at a pair of cornerbacks in Rasul Douglas and Antonio Hamilton, who were officially signed to the practice squad Friday. Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro first reported the moves Wednesday.
Douglas recorded 62 tackles (career high) and added nine passes defended in 2020 with the Carolina Panthers.
Hamilton appeared in 16 games with the Kansas City Chiefs last season. He played 135 total snaps on defense and was regularly used on special teams.
A look at the full list of practice squad players signed Friday:
– Linebacker Ron’Dell Carter
– Wide receiver Josh Doctson
– Cornerback Rasul Douglas
– Cornerback Antonio Hamilton
– Defensive lineman Jeremiah Ledbetter
– Defensive lineman Jonathan Ledbetter
– Offensive lineman Michal Menet
