Arizona Cardinals’ cornerback Robert Alford won’t play football for the second year in a row. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Alford suffered a pec tear and is set to have season-ending surgery.
Alford joined Cardinals on a three-year, $22.5 million contract in 2019 but ended up landing on an injured reserve with a broken leg before having a chance to suit up for the franchise. He entered this year’s training camp healthy and supposed to be the team’s starting corner before the unfortunate injury.
This represents a tough blow for Cardinals, who were one of the worst defenses against passing last year. It is expected that the team will now turn to 2019’s second-round pick Byron Murphy to start alongside Patrick Peterson like they did last season. Second-year player Chris Jones and veteran Kevin Peterson might also get a chance.
Alford’s injury comes just days after Cardinals defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said that having healthy corners will be crucial for the team this season.
“So, absolutely having Pat the full season, having Robert back for a full season and Murphy — you know Murphy played the most snaps of any rookie in the league last year — so having that experience back is going to be critical,” Joseph told reporters.
Robert Alford spent the first six years in league with Atlanta Falcons, where he played 88 NFL games and started 76 of them. He has 303 career tackles, 85 pass deflections, 10 interceptions, and three touchdowns.
