Arizona Cardinals place veteran safety on the COVID-19 list
By Jim Koch
Veteran safety Chris Banjo has been placed on the Arizona Cardinals COVID-19/reserve list just days before the season finale
Just a couple of days before the regular-season finale, the Arizona Cardinals have lost a member of their defensive backfield. Chris Banjo, an eighth-year NFL safety, has been placed on the club’s COVID-19/reserve list. The designation means that the Cards will be without the veteran when they take on the Los Angeles Rams this coming Sunday.
It’s bad timing for the loss of Banjo, considering the fact that the Cardinals need a victory in week 17 to advance to the league’s postseason tournament. In 13 appearances (four starts) for the squad in 2020, the 5’10, 207 pounder has contributed 48 tackles and one pass breakup for Big Red. Banjo started the year as a backup, but saw his playing time increase when starter Jalen Thompson missed time with an ankle injury.
Fortunately for Arizona, it appears that Thompson will be returning from a five-week absence this weekend. The 22-year old, who practiced in full on Thursday, has been on the field for just four games this season. Thompson tallied 14 tackles and one pass defensed during those matchups.
Banjo signed a one-year contract with the Cards back in September of 2019, and was credited with 12 tackles in the 13 contests he appeared in. The front office liked what they saw out of the former SMU product, and decided to bring him back for another campaign. Back in April, Banjo was inked to a one-year deal that paid him a little over a million dollars.
Back in 2013, Banjo signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an unrestricted free agent. Before coming to the Cardinals, the Texas native spent four seasons with the Green Bay Packers and three years with the New Orleans Saints.
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Arizona’s depth at the safety spot will take a hit with Banjo sidelined. Budda Baker, and hopefully Thompson, will be the team’s starters at the position versus the Rams. Second-year pro Deionte Thompson, and 27-year old Charles Washington, will serve as the backups.