Ojulari has not been practicing due to an undisclosed injury, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.
Ojulari has been missing practice with what head coach Jonathan Gannon described as "a little bit of a nick." While the injury is not serious, the team is just being cautious, and the 21-year-old will look to get back on the field before training camp begins next month.
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Steelers' Markus Golden: Headed to Pittsburgh
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Golden and the Steelers agreed Wednesday to a one-year deal, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Golden was released by Arizona this offseason after struggling to make an impact in 2022, recording just 48 tackles and 2.5 sacks across 17 regular-season appearances. The 2015 second-round pick has three career double-digit sack campaigns, most recently in 2021, but he's totaled just 13.5 sacks in his other five seasons combined. In Pittsburgh, Golden will likely compete with rookie fourth-round pick Nick Herbig for snaps behind T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith.
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Cardinals' Andre Chachere: Claimed by Arizona
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The Cardinals claimed Chachere off waivers Tuesday, Field Yates of ESPN reports.
Chachere will head to Arizona where he'll reunite with Jonathan Gannon, whom the 2018 undrafted free agent spent the past two years playing under in Philadelphia. The 27-year-old appeared in seven games last season and recorded five tackles (three solo) while playing almost exclusively on special teams and will likely have a similar role during the upcoming campaign.
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Cardinals' Isaiah Simmons: Doesn't get fifth-year option
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The Cardinals informed Simmons on Monday that his fifth-year team option for 2024 won't be exercised, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Teams needed to make decisions on such options for 2020 first-round picks by Monday, and Simmons now will be playing out the final year of his first deal as a pro in the upcoming campaign. Through three seasons, he's played all over Arizona's defense, with the last two amounting to 204 tackles, 5.5 sacks, three interceptions (one for a touchdown), two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery across 34 games. Expect Simmons' versatility to be utilized again in 2023.
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Cardinals' Dante Stills: Headed to the desert
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The Cardinals selected Stills in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, 213th overall.
Stills was a disruptive force along West Virginia's defensive line for five seasons, racking up a total of 23.5 sacks and 52.5 tackles for loss. He lacks the strength to fully translate that production as a pro, but he should serve in a rotational role along Arizona's defensive line.
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Cardinals' Kei'Trel Clark: More secondary help coming
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The Cardinals selected Clark in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, 180th overall.
Clark provides the Cardinals a bit of flexibility as a potential inside or outside corner, but it's worth pointing out he struggled in 2022 as a primary slot secondary option. He's not the biggest corner and doesn't give excellent run support, but he's a rangy athlete and at minimum should be a good special teams option.
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Cardinals' Owen Pappoe: Depth option for 'Zona
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The Cardinals selected Pappoe in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, 168th overall.
Pappoe was a five-star recruit coming out of high school and started every game he was healthy for across his four-year tenure at Auburn. The linebacker ran the fastest 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine among interior linebackers (4.39) and also benched an impressive 29 reps, an absurd combo of speed and strength that did translate onto the tape. That athletic combo too often worked against Pappoe however, as he'd over-pursue or simply attack the wrong hole far too frequently. At the very least, Pappoe could make an excellent special-teams player, but he could push for more playing time in a linebacking core that boasts an absurd amount of athleticism already.
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Cardinals' B.J. Ojulari: Heading to the desert
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The Cardinals selected Ojulari in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft, 41st overall.
Brother of Azeez, Ojulari blazed his own path at LSU and turned in a strong three seasons on the Bayou with 16.5 sacks and 25 tackles for loss. His 6-foot-2, 248-pound frame isn't ideal for an every-down player, but he has good length (34.25-in. arms) to help fight off blockers and the film showed him to be an explosive athlete. Arizona has added some impressive athletes in the draft in recent years with the likes of Isaiah Simmons and Zaven Collins, and Ojulari gives the Cardinals yet another versatile chess piece on defense.
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Cardinals' Zaven Collins: Working with edge rushers
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Collins has been lining up as an edge rusher during minicamp practices, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.
Collins primarily played inside linebacker during his first two NFL season. Head coach Jonathan Gannon said a decision hasn't been made whether the 23-year-old will continue to line up on the edge come the start of the regular season, but where on defense Collins plays will be worth tracking throughout the spring and summer.
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Titans' Ben Niemann: Headed to Tennessee
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The Titans signed Niemann on Monday, Jim Wyatt of the team's official site reports.
Niemann will head to Tennessee after starting nine games for the Cardinals last year. The 27-year-old is coming off one of the most productive campaigns of his career, logging 70 tackles (38 solo), which was a new high for him. Heading into this season, Niemann may have the opportunity to compete with Monty Rice and fellow newcomer Azeez Al-Shaair for a regular role at inside linebacker.
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Panthers' Kamu Grugier-Hill: Lands in Carolina
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Grugier-Hill signed with the Panthers on Tuesday.
Grugier-Hill split time between the Texans and Cardinals last season, recording 48 total tackles over 15 games. The Panthers will get more depth at the inside linebacker position behind Shaq Thompson and Frankie Luvu, while also acquiring a proven special teams player.
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Jaguars' Michael Dogbe: Joins Jacksonville
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Dogbe agreed to a contract with the Jaguars on Wednesday, John Shipley of SI.com reports.
Dogbe will head to Jacksonville after spending time on both the Cardinals' active roster and practice squad last season. He appeared in 13 games for Arizona, logging a career-high 28 tackles. Dogbe is projected to fill a depth role along Jacksonville's defensive line.
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Cardinals' Antonio Hamilton: Headed back to Arizona
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Hamilton (hip) re-signed a one-year deal with Cardinals on Tuesday, Darren Urban of team's official site reports.
Hamilton is coming off his best season, setting a new high in tackles with 44 (40 solo) and recording his first NFL interception. After serving as a reserve for the majority of his career, the 30-year-old earned a starting role before missing the last two games of the season with a hip injury. With the Cardinals lacking depth in the secondary, Hamilton figures to have the opportunity to earn a starting job again in 2023.
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Browns' Trysten Hill: Signing with Browns
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Hill's (knee) signing a contract with the Browns on Thursday, Scott Petrak of The Chronicle-Telegram reports.
Hill will be the team's third addition along the interior of the defensive line along with Dalvin Tomlinson and Maurice Hurst (biceps). Hill had one sack and 12 tackles while splitting time between the Cowboys and Cardinals in 2022, but he finished the season on injured reserve due to a knee sprain.
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Cardinals' Ezekiel Turner: Back in Arizona
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Arizona re-signed Turner to a one-year contract Wednesday, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.
Turner rarely sees the field on defense but has been a core special teams player for Arizona over the past five seasons. He's expected to continue being a key part of the Cardinals' coverage units in 2023 while also serving as a reserve linebacker.
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Cardinals' Byron Murphy: Joining Minnesota
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Murphy (back) agreed Tuesday with the Vikings on a two-year, $22 million contract, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Murphy was selected by the Cardinals in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft and has spent the the last four seasons there. During that span, he accumulated 223 tackles (178 solo), three sacks, 34 passes defensed and five interceptions. He will now look for a fresh start in Minnesota as one of its starting cornerbacks.
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Broncos' Zach Allen: Agrees to deal with Denver
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Allen agreed to a three-year, $45.75 million contract with the Broncos on Monday, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports.
The contract won't become official until the new league year begins Wednesday, but Allen is scheduled to join Denver on a contract that includes $32.5 million guaranteed. He missed the final four games of the 2022 season with a hand injury but recorded 5.5 sacks for the Cardinals before then.
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Markus Golden: Will be released
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The Cardinals are releasing Golden on Friday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Golden struggled to make an impact in 2022, posting just 48 tackles and 2.5 sacks across 17 regular-season appearances. His release will save the Cardinals approximately $3 million in cap space, per Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site. Golden posted 11 sacks during his first season back with Arizona in 2021 and has three career double-digit sack campaigns, so he could be an intriguing free agent and potential bounce-back candidate in 2023.
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Chris Banjo: Announces retirement
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Banjo announced his retirement via his personal Twitter account Sunday.
The undrafted defensive back out of SMU played in 10 NFL seasons with three different teams (Packers, Saints and Cardinals). Banjo mostly operated as a special-teams ace, but he did record three career interceptions and had a fumble recovery for a touchdown, which came in his final season. He's set to join the Broncos as an assistant special teams coach.
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Jessie Lemonier: Passes away at age 25
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Lemonier passed away Thursday at the age of 25, Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com reports.
Lemonier appeared in 13 combined games between the Chargers and Lions from 2020-21. Through his seven appearances with the Lions in 2021, he recorded 1.5 sacks. Lemonier was selected in the 2023 XFL Draft back in November but instead had decided to commit to the USFL this upcoming spring.
