The Arizona Cardinals, who entered the week with two available roster spots open, filled one of the vacancies on Wednesday as veterans reported to training camp. The team announced it signed linebacker Matt Longacre, formerly of the Los Angeles Rams.
Longacre has played four years in the NFL, all with the Rams, after signing as an undrafted rookie out of Northwest Missouri State.
He has appeared in 38 games and started eight games in the last two seasons. He started seven last season. In 2017, he had 5.5 sacks and added one last season. Two of his career 6.5 sacks have come against the Cardinals.
He is 6-foot-3 and 265 pounds and could make the team at outside linebacker. The defense the Cardinals will run under defensive coordinator Vance Joseph is similar to what Longacre played with the Rams under Wade Phillips. Joseph was taught by Phillips.
The Cardinals did not have much depth at outside linebacker, especially with veteran Brooks Reed beginning camp on PUP with a hip injury. Longacre will battle young players Vontarrius Dora, Cameron Malveaux and Pita Taumopenu for the fourth OLB position on the roster.
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