Arizona Cardinals place two on IR, cut three others

The Arizona Cardinals wasted no time in making moves ahead of the roster cut-down deadline next Saturday

In a move expected over the past several days, the Arizona Cardinals sent rookie Hakeem Butler to the injured reserve, ending his season before it even started.  Also joining him on the IR was safety Josh Shaw.

Not joining them on the IR was cornerback Robert Alford.  Because placing a player on IR now would be different than if he was on the 53-man roster, it is quite possible that Alford could be placed on the 53-man roster and then placed on IR next week.

That move would make Alford eligible to return during the 2019 season.  So today’s non-move of Alford should be taken with caution.  Maybe Alford does have a chance to come back around the time Patrick Peterson returns from his suspension?

That wasn’t the only move the Cardinals made.  They also cut three players.  They cut three of their linebackers, a position mentioned yesterday as going to be a tough cut with all they had on the current 90-man roster.

They released Jeff Holland, Andre Branch, and Hayes Pullard.  None had been projected to make the 53-man regular season roster.

As for Shaw, he was projected to make it, so that makes things a bit more interesting when the 53-man roster comes out.  Does that allow a guy like Brandon Williams to slide in?

Does it mean the Cardinals may go out and look for another safety?  Or maybe it means the Cardinals keep a guy like Jonathan Owens?  There are so many possibilities, especially with a number of players being cut by next weekend.

For now, we hope this gives Butler a chance to sit and learn for a year and comes back 100 percent next season ready to make himself known to NFL defenses.  Butler didn’t have a great camp and then his hand fracture occurred.  We look forward to his contributions in 2020.