Cardinals add intriguing cornerback to their practice squad

The Arizona Cardinals front office wasted no time in signing fifth-year cover guy Rasul Douglas to their 2021 practice squad.

This past Tuesday, the Arizona Cardinals lost Malcolm Butler for the season when they placed their number-one cornerback on the NFL’s Reserve/Retired list. On Wednesday, the club added some insurance to the suddenly-depleted position.

Rasul Douglas, a fifth-year veteran, has been added to Arizona‘s 2021 practice squad. The move comes exactly one day after the 6-foot-2, 209-pound Douglas was released by the Houston Texans. What does this acquisition mean for the Cardinals secondary?

Basically, the Cards need all of the help they can get after Butler’s shocking retirement. The fact that the team was hit with that news less than two weeks before the season-opener makes it even more difficult to swallow. That being said, there’s a good chance that Douglas could be promoted to the Redbirds’ 53-man roster in the very near future.

Young corner has 29 starts under his belt since he turned pro back in 2017

Douglas entered the league back in 2017 as a third-round draft selection of the Philadelphia Eagles. The New Jersey native played his college ball at West Virginia University, and he had a breakout campaign as a senior back in 2016. Douglas racked up 70 tackles, eight interceptions, and eight pass breakups in 13 appearances that year for the Mountaineers.

In 46 games (18 starts) for the Eagles, Douglas totaled 118 tackles, five picks, and 25 pass breakups. The 26-year-old spent three years in Philadelphia, but he was ultimately waived by the organization during final roster cuts in September of 2020.

One day after leaving the Eagles, Douglas was claimed off of the waiver wire by the Carolina Panthers. In 14 contests (11 starts) for that franchise last fall, Douglas was credited with 62 tackles and nine pass breakups.

In April of this year, Douglas agreed to a deal with the Las Vegas Raiders. He was sent packing by the “Silver and Black” on August 23, only to be handed a deal by Houston just a couple of days later. However, Douglas’ stint with the Texans lasted just six days.

Will Douglas have anything to offer the Arizona defensive unit this coming fall? Following the unfortunate situation with Butler, the Cardinals can only hope that he does.

(All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference)