Cardinals sign five players to practice squad

Published Sep. 2, 2013 12:38 p.m. ET

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TEMPE, Ariz. -- The Cardinals signed five players to their practice squad on Monday, one day after cutting their roster down to the 53-man limit.

Three of them had been released by the Cardinals over the weekend: former Arizona State wide receiver Kerry Taylor, safety Curtis Taylor and linebacker Kenny Rowe.

The other two players signed were center/guard Philip Blake and linebacker Dontay Moch.

Blake was a fourth-round draft pick of Denver last year out of Baylor. He was inactive for two games last season, then went on injured reserve with a thumb injury. Moch, who played high school football at nearby Chandler Hamilton High School, was a third-round pick out of Nevada by Cincinnati in 2011. He played in one game in his two seasons with the Bengals.
Moch has been limited due to migraines, a broken foot and a four-game suspension for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs. He has recorded 6.5 sacks the past two preseasons.
Arians expects all eight practice squad spots to be filled by Wednesday.
Tight end Jeff King said Monday that the recent swelling in his knee that forced another surgery was caused by "some loose bodies" that doctors found "floating around in there."
King said there was no structural damage. He was at the Cards' facility for treatment on Monday in the first stage in his rehabilitation. He is eligible to come off of injured reserve after six weeks, but the Cards may hold that one IR exemption for another player so it's conceivable that King won't be back on the field for the Cardinals this season.

Following this weekend's moves, the Cardinals only have four wide receivers on the 53-man roster, leading some to speculate that they would make another roster move.
"Probably not in the near future," coach Bruce Arians said Monday. "We'll probably stay pat there for a while unless somebody really comes across that's very special."
Arians noted that cornerback Patrick Peterson factors into the equation at receiver. Late in camp, Peterson estimated that the number of plays involving him on offense was up to 60.
Arians also said the team will likely stick with 10 offensive linemen for now. The Cardinals have three reserve tackles.

Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald attended Monday's practice but left early to catch a flight to Pittsburgh for a special honor bestowed by his alma mater. His Pitt jersey No. 1 is being retired Monday at halftime of the Florida State-Pittsburgh game.

Tight end Rob Housler (high ankle sprain) and running back Rashard Mendenhall (knee) were not practicing during the open portion of Monday's practice. Arians said Housler likely will be day-to-day this week but "is making good progress."
Arians said he held Mendenhall out Monday but both he and Ryan Williams will be ready to play Sunday in St. Louis. Mendenhall was wearing a brace Monday.
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