A practice squad has been added by the Arizona Cardinals in advance of their Week 2 game against the Los Angeles Rams.
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Defensive lineman Tyler Manoa, who only joined the squad last week, was discharged, while defensive lineman Angelo Blackson was added to the practice squad, the team said today.
We have made the following roster moves:
-Signed DL Angelo Blackson to the practice squad
-Released DL Tyler Manoa from the practice squad pic.twitter.com/5H5gzEY2Rl— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) September 10, 2024
In 2020, Blackson was a 16-game participant with the Cardinals, logging 24 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 8 quarterback hits, and 4 tackles for loss. In his ten-year NFL career, he has played for five different teams during the regular season: the Jacksonville Jaguars (2023), Chicago Bears (2021–22), Cardinals (2020), Houston Texans (2017–19), and Tennessee Titans (2015–16). He was originally selected as the 100th overall pick out of Auburn in 2015.
Over the course of his career, Blackson has participated in 128 games (42 starts), recording 179 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 27 quarterback hits, 17 tackles for loss, 8 passes defensed, 1 interception, 4 fumble recoveries, and 1 forced fumble. After playing in 11 games for Jacksonville in 2023 and spending the preseason with the Denver Broncos, he joins Arizona.
Before Week 2, the Cardinals’ whole depth chart, which includes the defensive line, looks like this:
#AZCardinals depth chart ahead of Week 2 vs. the Rams pic.twitter.com/FsSwKVuCL5
— Arizona Cardinals Insiders 🎤🎙 (@AZCardsInsiders) September 10, 2024
The rookie wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. of the Cardinals was not given many targets in Week 1.
In a Week 1 setback to the Buffalo Bills, did the Arizona Cardinals forget they had drafted Marvin Harrison Jr., a highly heralded rookie wide receiver?
No. 4 overall pick Harrison had one reception for four yards on three targets during Sunday’s 34-28 loss to Buffalo. Drew Petzing, the offensive coordinator for the Cardinals, said that he will see more of the ball against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 2.
Darren Urban of the team website reported on Tuesday that Petzing stated, “Certainly, he is on the forefront of our minds in terms of getting him the ball.” “I believe the Bills took certain actions to remove him, and I could have called some plays to incorporate him earlier, but overall, I felt it was a nice beginning. We need to go to work on this.
Harrison might not have gotten along with quarterback Kyler Murray yet, which would account for why he didn’t get more targets on Sunday.
Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk noted that Murray didn’t seem to notice Harrison, even though it looked like he was open on a play close to the end zone late in the fourth quarter against Buffalo.
“Petzing explained that he emphasizes to Kyler that it’s not his responsibility to focus on getting the ball to specific players or be concerned about how someone is performing during the game. “That’s my job through play-calling,” he said, adding that Kyler’s role is to make the best decision based on the defensive setup, coverage, and how the routes are executed.”
Harrison might still be an Arizona difference-maker despite his lackluster debut. He received two first-team All-American selections during his three seasons at Ohio State, and he was named the 2023 Biletnikoff Award winner as the top wide receiver in college football.
