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Veteran cornerback arrives to help the Arizona Cardinals defense

By Jim Koch

NASHVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 20: Johnathan Joseph #33 of the Tennessee Titans stretches on the sidelines during a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Nissan Stadium on September 20, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans defeated the Jaguars 33-30. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 20: Johnathan Joseph #33 of the Tennessee Titans stretches on the sidelines during a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Nissan Stadium on September 20, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans defeated the Jaguars 33-30. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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Veteran Johnathan Joseph has been signed to provide help for an Arizona Cardinals cornerback group that lacks quality depth

Heading into last Sunday’s matchup with the Miami Dolphins, the Arizona Cardinals knew they were short-handed at the cornerback spot. Dre Kirkpatrick and Byron Murphy would not be available, and their backups were hardly up to par. On Wednesday, Cards general manager Steve Keim made a move that should help shore up the insufficient depth at the vitally-important position.

Johnathan Joseph, a 15th-year NFL cover guy, has been brought in to provide assistance for Arizona’s coverage unit. The 36-year old is a two-time Pro Bowler who has spent time with the Cincinnati Bengals, Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans. Joseph’s deal will keep him in the desert for the remainder of the season, and allow him to enter free agency in 2021.

The former first-round draft pick saw some action with the Titans during the current campaign, before being released by the club on November 3rd. In seven appearances (six starts), Joseph totaled 29 tackles, one interception, five passes defensed and a forced fumble for Tennessee.

In 207 career contests (192 starts), Joseph has racked up 784 tackles, 32 picks,199 pass breakups and eight forced fumbles during his 15 years in the league. The 5’11,186 pounder has also scored an incredible eight touchdowns from the defensive side of the ball.

It was obvious that the Cardinals needed help in the secondary after their fill-in corners were sliced and diced this past weekend by a rookie quarterback. Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa completed 20 of his 28 pass attempts for 248 yards and two scores against the likes of Kevin Peterson, Jace Whittaker and De’Vante Bausby. Peterson has since been placed on the injured-reserve list with a concussion, while Bausby was released the day after the loss to the Dolphins.

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The acquisition of Joseph wasn’t the only bit of good news that the Cards received about their defensive backfield. Murphy has been activated off of the reserve/COVID-19 list, meaning that he’s eligible to be in the lineup when the Buffalo Bills visit State Farm Stadium this coming Sunday. After last week’s debacle, Arizona’s cornerback group can use all of the help they can get.

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