Cal in NFL: Cardinals Sign TE Richard Rodgers to Practice Squad
Former Cal standout tight end Richard Rodgers II is not finished with pro ball yet.
The 29-year-old Rodgers has bounced around this season, and on Wednesday, the Arizona Cardinals signed Rodgers to their practice squad. And it’s possible Rodgers could be elevated to the active roster before long.
However, his opportunity to join the active roster may have been erased on Friday when the Cardinals acquired tight end Zach Ertz in a trade with the Eagles, Rodgers' former team.
Rodgers was signed because Cardinals tight end Maxx Williams was placed on injured reserve. That leaves Darrell Daniels and Demetrius Harris as the only two healthy tight ends on Arizona's roster. Rodgers could be activated for a game at some point.
Rodgers was waived by the Eagles in the final cutdown before the regular-season opener even though Philadelphia kept four tight ends on the roster.
Rodgers was then signed to the Eagles' practice squad on September 21 when Ertz was placed on the COVID-19 list. There was a chance Rodgers would be elevated to the active squad so he could play in a September 27 Monday night game against the Dallas Cowboys.
However, Ertz was cleared in time to play, Rodgers was not promoted to the active roster, and the Eagles released him the day after the game against Dallas.
Now Ertz's presence might stand in the way of Rodgers' being activated to Arizona's active roster. Nonetheless it is still possible that Rodgers will play in an NFL game this season.
Rodgers is a seven-year NFL veteran who played in 84 games (28 starts) with Philadelphia (2018-20) and Green Bay (2014-17) in his career and has 145 receptions for 1,518 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Last year, Rodgers played in 14 games for the Eagles and made four starts. He finished with 24 receptions for 345 yards and two touchdowns.
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Cover photo of Richard Rodgers II is by Kyle Terada, USA TODAY Sports
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