The Arizona Cardinals placed linebacker Tanner Vallejo on injured reserve with a knee injury, the team announced Saturday.
In addition, the team signed long snapper Beau Brinkley and running back Tavien Feaster to the active roster from the practice squad.
With Vallejo on injured reserve, the Cardinals elevated linebackers Joe Walker and Tahir Whitehead to the active roster from the practice squad as standard elevations.
The absence of Vallejo could mean an increase in snaps for rookie linebacker Zaven Collins. Vallejo has served as a key run-stopper for the Cardinals’ defense and defensive coordinator Vance Joseph has used the two linebackers in similar ways.
As for Brinkley, the long snapper signed with the Cardinals’ practice squad on Nov. 12 after starting long snapper Aaron Brewer suffered a broken arm in the Cardinals’ Week 9 win over the San Francisco 49ers. Brinkley played in last week’s game against the Carolina Panthers.
Feaster was also on the active roster last week against the Panthers after being signed from the practice squad.
Signing with the Cardinals’ practice squad on Oct. 13, Walker has played in the past five games. As for Whitehead, the nine-year NFL veteran has played 139 games in his career, most recently for the Panthers in 2020.