Arizona Cardinals notebook: Team brings in veteran help at defensive tackle

The Cardinals on Friday announced the free-agent signings of defensive tackles Antwaun Woods and Christian Ringo in a move that provides more veteran depth up front and more bodies to utilize as training camp continues at State Farm Stadium.

To make room on the roster, the team has released defensive tackle Matt Dickerson and tight end David Wells.

Woods, 29, has appeared in 47 career NFL games with the Titans, Cowboys and Colts. He has predominantly played the nose tackle position and joins a group that includes third-year pros Rashard Lawrence and Leki Fotu.

Ringo, 30, began his career with the Packers in 2015 and has spent time with five other NFL clubs, including the past two seasons with the Saints. He’ll provide depth behind J.J. Watt, Zach Allen and free-agent addition Kingsley Keke.

“With some of the veterans we have, talking about J.J. (Watt) and a couple of other guys on defense, we’re going to start resting some of them so to bring in two more to go along with those young guys we feel like will help,” coach Kliff Kingsbury said. “Both have played, both have been very productive in the league, so we’ll see how it shakes out.

“We like the young guys, but you can’t have enough of those bodies in camp.”

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No Mr. Mic

Kingsbury said there are four to five defensive players he would trust to wear the microphone and radio in their helmet to call out the plays and get everyone aligned properly. One of them, apparently, will not be Watt, the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

“Absolutely not,” Watt said. “We tried that experiment once in Houston and I almost passed out.”

Watt said he has huge admiration for any player who can handle the responsibility, noting the job is a lot tougher than it sounds.

“Most of the time it’s the MIKE linebacker wearing the green dot,” he said, “but to be able to run down the play, cover a pass 24 yards down the field, get back to the huddle, listen to this guy screaming in your ear for 15 seconds and then trying to relay it to us and then have all of us morons be like, ‘What was the call? What was the call? What was he call?’

“It would kill me. I don’t want to do that. I’m just trying to survive out there.”

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Injury update

Kingsbury said he’s hopeful wide receiver Hollywood Brown (hamstring) will be able to begin practicing at some point next week.

Quarterback Kyler Murray had trainers look at his wrist early on during Friday’s practice. Kingsbury said Murray was experiencing some tenderness in the wrist, but that it wasn’t anything serious and Murray was able to participate in every rep.

A handful of players were given a veteran’s day off on Friday.

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Standing out

Kingsbury was asked which players jumped out to him during Friday’s practice and he singled out linebacker Isaiah Simmons, who made an acrobatic interception of Murray at one point and returned it for a touchdown.

“It was good to see Isaiah Simmons make a big play on defense,” Kingsbury said. “He has the ability to make those impact plays each and every week and so the more confidence can build in that role he has, the better we’ll be.”

Fans in the house

The Cardinals will hold their first public practice of camp from 1:30 to 3 p.m. as part of the league’s Back Together Saturday celebration at State Farm Stadium. Admission and parking are free but fans needed to register for digital tickets in advance.

Gates open at noon for season ticket members and at 12:30 for the general public.

Cardinals training camp information: What to know before going to State Farm Stadium

The NFL’s Clear Bag policy will be in effect and all fans are asked to limit the items they bring into the stadium to speed their entry through security. Concessions stands will be open, in addition to the team shop and the Kids Interactive Zone. Mascot Bid Red and Cardinals cheerleaders will be available for autographs and the NFL Network will have live coverage from 1-4.

“There will be extra juice from the players, there’s no doubt,” Kingsbury said. “Anytime they get people in the stadium, it’s great for them. They’ll go a little bit harder, have a little bit more bounce in their step and it’ll be great to see everybody without the COVID protocols and they can just come in here and enjoy the day.”

Have an opinion on the Arizona Cardinals? Reach McManaman at bob.mcmanaman@arizonarepublic.com and follow him on Twitter @azbobbymac. Listen to him live on Fox Sports 910-AM every Tuesday afternoon at 3:30 on Calling All Sports with Roc and Manuch. 

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona Cardinals bring in 2 veteran defensive tackles in Woods, Ringo