Report: Cardinals to add QB Strong to practice squad, cut CB Mullen

The Arizona Cardinals are moving forward after a season-ending ACL injury to Kyler Murray by bolstering the quarterback room and opening the door for young players to grow in the final four games of 2022.

Arizona on Tuesday agreed to sign quarterback Carson Strong to the practice squad, reports NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. The team announced it released cornerback Trayvon Mullen Jr.

Strong, an undrafted player out of Nevada, threw four passes over two preseason games with the Philadelphia Eagles before he was released prior to the regular season.

For the Wolfpack in college, he completed 68% of his passes and threw 74 touchdowns to 19 interceptions.

He now sits behind Colt McCoy and Trace McSorley on the depth chart.

Mullen, a second-round pick (40th overall) in 2019, was traded to the Cardinals by the Las Vegas Raiders before the regular season began.

He brought 37 games of experience under his belt but missed all but five games in 2021 with foot and toe injuries. Mullen never gained footing in Arizona, as injuries limited him until he began receiving more playing time in the past month. He played a season-high 42 snaps Monday in Arizona’s 27-13 loss to the New England Patriots.

Arizona acquired Mullen for a conditional seventh-round pick that would have become a sixth-rounder if Mullen made two more appearances, according to Garafolo.

Mullen recorded 13 tackles with a quarterback hit and one pass defensed in eight games for the Cardinals this season.

His release could mean an uptick in playing time for 2022 seventh-round draft pick Christian Matthew. The rookie out of Valdosta State will fight for playing time behind Byron Murphy, who has been out with a back injury, as well as Marco Wilson, who suffered a stinger Monday but could play this Sunday against the Denver Broncos.

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