The Cardinals, with veteran Brooks Reed beginning training camp on the physically unable to perform list, made a move to add another veteran at outside linebacker Wednesday by signing free agent Matt Longacre to a one-year contract.
Longacre spent his first four NFL seasons with the Rams, with a career-best 5½ sacks in 2017. Reed has been dealing with a hip issue for a chunk of the offseason.
"He's a very cerebral player," coach Kliff Kingsbury said. "We feel like he can pick up our scheme quickly. Great special teams player. Tough-nosed, all those components you want in a player. We're excited to have him, and we'll see how it goes."
The Cardinals hold their first practice Thursday at State Farm Stadium. They still have one open spot on the 90-man roster.
Longacre was originally an undrafted free agent out of Northwest Missouri State in 2015. He appeared in only 11 games his first two seasons before his breakout work in 2017 in 14 games. He took a step back last season, notching only one sack in 13 games, despite starting a career-high seven times. He ended up inactive a couple of times after the Rams traded for Dante Fowler.
Behind starters Chandler Jones and Terrell Suggs, the Cards also have Vontarrius Dora, Cameron Malveaux and Pita Taumoepenu as reserve outside linebackers. Reed is eligible to come off the PUP at any time during camp.
Follow along with all our coverage from camp and find important details about attending open practices on our training camp central page.