Cardinals release rookie OL Michal Menet, sign OT Eric Smith
Sep 7, 2021, 4:25 PM | Updated: 4:49 pm
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - AUGUST 08: Eric Smith #65 of the New York Jets and Kareem Martin #96 of the New York Giants battle during a preseason game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on August 08, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
The Arizona Cardinals released 2021 seventh-round pick offensive lineman Michal Menet and signed 26-year-old offensive tackle Eric Smith to the practice squad Tuesday afternoon.
Menet, 24, was drafted as a center out of Penn State, but took reps at guard during training camp and the preseason since he was behind veterans Rodney Hudson and Max Garcia on the depth chart at center.
He got released during the Cardinals cutdown to 53 players on Aug. 30, but signed onto the practice squad less than a week later. Menet is the only Cardinals 2021 draft pick no longer on the active roster or the practice squad.
Arizona replaced him with Smith, who went undrafted in 2017 after playing college football at the University of Virginia. But, he has spent time with five NFL organizations since: Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New York Jets, New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys.
Smith was most recently with Dallas from September of 2020 until he got cut on Aug. 30.
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In four seasons, Smith has played in three NFL games, two in 2019 with the Giants and one last year as a Cowboy. He had 56 offensive snaps with New York and just five on special teams in Week 3 last season.
Smith is 6-foot-4, 321 pounds and is now the heaviest offensive player listed on the Cardinals.
Arizona has nine offensive linemen on the 53-man roster, and adding Smith gives the team more tackle depth at practice. Cutting Menet for Smith leaves the Cardinals with two guards — Koda Martin and Sean Harlow — and one tackle on the practice squad.
