Former Vikings CB Released by Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals had very little expectations heading into 2023 with QB Kyler Murray being out due to an ACL tear late in the 2022 season.
However, they have been a bit of a pleasant surprise to begin the year. They are 1-3 through four weeks, but they have consistently been competitive in every game they’ve played. Unfortunately, just being competitive doesn’t lead to a playoff berth, so with the Cardinals sitting in last place in the NFC West, they opted to change some things on their roster.
One of these moves included releasing former Vikings CB Kris Boyd on Monday. The news was reported by KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, who tweeted Monday afternoon, “Cardinals released Kris Boyd, Christian Matthew, Ilm Manning, Jacob Slade.”
Former Vikings CB Released by Cardinals
Boyd was selected in the seventh round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Vikings, and he appeared in 58 games for Minnesota over his four years there, including six starts.
In 2020 alone, he made five of those starts because of injuries that ravaged Minnesota’s secondary throughout the year. During that season, he recorded 34 tackles, a tackle for loss, 2 passes defended, and a forced fumble.
The CB has always been a special teams fiend, though, and over the past few years, this is where the majority of his snaps have come. Last year with the Vikings, he played just 37 snaps on defense but had 403 snaps with the special teams group. He had a key forced fumble during Minnesota’s win over the New Orleans Saints in Week 4.
It was a similar story for Boyd in Arizona through four weeks this year. He has played 63 snaps this year, all coming on the special teams. He had two tackles to his name as well.
Now, the cornerback will be on the search for a new team in need of special teams help heading into Week 5.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.