*Pharoh Cooper – Noteworthy – Transaction
WR Pharoh Cooper was claimed on waivers by the Cardinals from the Rams Wednesday (Dec. 19). Cooper (5-11, 208) was an All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection in 2017 with the Rams as a return specialist after appearing in all 16 games and finishing with 932 kick return yards (27.4-yard average) and 399 punt return yards (12.5-yard average. His 1,331 combined return yardage was the most in the NFL last season. He entered the league with the Rams as a fourth-round selection (117th overall) in the 2016 draft out of South Carolina. The 23-year old Cooper has played in 31 career games (four starts) the past three seasons and has 25 receptions for 190 yards, 59 kickoff returns for 1,501 yards (25.4-yard average) and a touchdown, and 39 punt returns for 416 yards (10.7-yard average).
David Amerson – Noteworthy – Injury
CB David Amerson is expected to start Sunday’s game against the Rams despite suffering concussion symptoms last Sunday against the Falcons. Nevertheless, the Cardinals made a series of moves at the cornerback position this week, which included elevating corners Deatrick Nichols and Chris Jones form the practice squad and releasing corners Dontae Johnson and Quinten Rollins.
Fish Smithson – Noteworthy – Transaction
S Fish Smithson was signed by the Cardinals to their practice squad Wednesday (Dec. 19). He had been waived by the Redskins Sept. 1. Smithson (5-11, 196) played in two games with Washington last season after entering the league with the Redskins as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Kansas. He spent the first 15 weeks of the 2017 season on Washington’s practice squad before being promoted to the active roster.
Josh Rosen – Noteworthy
QB Josh Rosen will start each of the Cardinals’ final two games, head coach Steve Wilks said, even though the rookie has been taking a beating and will be going up against two very physical defenses when Arizona meets the Rams and the Seahawks. Rosen said he would be angry if he didn’t get to play these final two games.
“I don’t really want to speak more on that because I want to play,” he said. “I couldn’t make it any more clear. I would be very frustrated if they didn’t play me, but those are decisions above me. I’m glad, at least, from practice today I’m playing. I’m very grateful for that. I would be very frustrated, but it’s out of my control.”
Justin Evans – Noteworthy – Transaction
G Justin Evans was released from the practice squad by the Cardinals Wednesday (Dec. 19) and then re-signed to the practice squad Thursday.
Pete Robertson – Noteworthy – Transaction
LB Pete Robertson was signed by the Cardinals to their practice squad Wednesday (Dec. 19). He had been waived by the Redskins Sept. 1. Robertson (6-2, 243) originally entered the league with Seattle as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2016 out of Texas Tech. He signed with Washington in 2017 and spent the first 11 weeks of the season on the Redskins practice squad last season before being elevated to the active roster where he played in four games and had two tackles.