The Cardinals placed Alford (undisclosed) on the reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday, Darren Urban of the team's official site reports.
Alford now looks unlikely for Saturday's preseason finale against the Saints, but he will have over two weeks to gain clearance ahead of the regular-season opener versus the Titans on Sept. 12. Until the veteran cornerback fully clears the league's COVID-19 protocols, however, he will have to remain away from team facilities.
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Robert Alford: Let go by Cardinals
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The Cardinals cut Alford (pectoral) on Wednesday, Field Yates of ESPN reports.
Alford's two-year stint in Arizona was defined by injuries, as he missed the 2019 season with a broken tibia and the 2020 season with a torn pectoral muscle. It's unclear if he's fully recovered from the latter at this point, but the 32-year-old cornerback should be ready to go for the 2021 campaign.
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Cardinals' Robert Alford: Removed from COVID list
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Alford (pectoral) was activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list Monday, per the NFL's official transaction log.
The 32-year-old cornerback remains on injured reserve with a torn pectoral suffered in August. Set to make $7.5 million in 2021 in what will be his final year under contract with the Cardinals, Alford eyes his first game appearance since Dec. 30, 2018. A fractured tibia cost him all of 2019 after he joined the Cardinals as a free agent in February of that year.
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Cardinals' Robert Alford: Season officially over
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Alford will sit out of the 2020 season after suffering a torn pectoral muscle Monday, Katherine Fitzgerald of the Arizona Republic reports.
Alford missed the entire 2019 season after fracturing his tibia during training camp, and the 31-year-old cornerback will miss a second straight season with a torn pectoral muscle. There's now an open competition for who will start at cornerback next to Patrick Peterson and Byron Murphy in nickel packages. Kevin Peterson and Duke Thomas are front runners for the gig.
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Cardinals' Robert Alford: To miss time with leg injury
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Alford suffered a leg injury during Thursday's preseason game against the Raiders and is expected to miss an "extended amount of time," Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports.
This is tough news for Alford, who was expected to begin the 2019 campaign as a starting cornerback opposite Patrick Peterson. Head coach Kliff Kingsbury didn't sound optimistic about Alford's availability moving forward, so there's a chance he could miss a good chunk of the upcoming season.
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Cardinals' Robert Alford: Going through offseason as starter
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GM Steve Keim considers Alford to be the Cardinals' starting cornerback opposite Patrick Peterson, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports.
Typically, such a role has yielded plenty of looks from opposing quarterbacks and thus elevated production. That said, the position was a revolving door in 2018, hence the reason Keim pounced once Alford was released by the Falcons on Feb. 5. While Alford has picked off just three passes the last three seasons, he's averaged 61 tackles per 16 games during that stretch. A similar projection for 2019 is reasonable to expect, with an increase in interceptions possible with Peterson on the other side.
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Cardinals' Robert Alford: Signs with Cardinals
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Alford signed a three-year contract with the Cardinals on Thursday, Kyle Odegard of the Cardinals' official site reports.
Alford was released by the Falcons on Tuesday as the team looked to create some extra cap space ahead of free agency. The 2013 second-round pick struggled a bit in 2018, recording no interceptions and posting his worst tackle numbers in four years. He'll enter his age-30 season in 2019 and will add to Arizona's secondary depth and could start at cornerback opposite Patrick Peterson.
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Robert Alford: Cut loose by Atlanta
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Alford was released by the Falcons on Tuesday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
The cornerback was due $8.5 million in the upcoming season, but Atlanta opted to let him go after he struggled a bit during the 2017 campaign. Alford recorded just 50 tackles last season -- his lowest mark since 2014 -- and failed to grab an interception for the first time as a pro. Most experts expect him to find a new landing spot fairly soon, though it's currently unclear as to where that will be.
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Falcons' Robert Alford: Struggling in coverage
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Alford collected five tackles during Sunday's 28-16 loss to the Browns.
The sixth-year defensive back has dealt with an ankle injury for the past two weeks, but his level of play overall this season has been well below par. Alford owns a season-long performance grade of 48.5 from Pro Football Focus, a career low for him, and easily the worst of any of the Falcons' top four cornerbacks. After Atlanta got diced up by Baker Mayfield on Sunday (85 percent completion rate, three passing touchdowns), Alford and the Falcons secondary look to get back on track in Week 11 facing Dak Prescott and the Cowboys' bottom five pass offense (194 yards per game).
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Falcons' Robert Alford: Ready to go Week 10
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Alford (ankle) will suit up against the Browns on Sunday, Will McFadden of the Falcons' official site reports.
Alford was a full participant in Friday's practice after having been limited to begin the week. The starting cornerback will return to Atlanta's lineup after missing last week's win over the Redskins, and he'll attempt to contain Baker Mayfield and the Browns on Sunday.
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Falcons' Robert Alford: Won't play Sunday
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Alford (ankle) was ruled out for Sunday's game against the Redskins, Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com reports.
Alford wasn't able to participate at practice this week after playing through the injury Week 7, with the Falcons bye apparently not providing enough recovery time. Isaiah Oliver will make his second career start at cornerback in his absence, while Alford's streak of 46 straight starts will be snapped.
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Falcons' Robert Alford: Misses second consecutive practice
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Alford (ankle) did not participate in practice Thursday, Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com reports.
Alford was unable to partake in practice on his 30th birthday Thursday, casting doubt as to whether he will be able to extend his streak of 46 consecutive starts. Alford played through a bum ankle in Atlanta's Week 7 win over the Giants, but it remains to be seen if he'll active for Sunday's tilt against Washington. If the veteran cornerback is unable to go against Alex Smith and the Redskins' No. 26 passing attack, rookie Isaiah Oliver is slotted to make his second career start.
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Falcons' Robert Alford: Notches career-high 68 tackles in 2017
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Alford's 68 total tackles (60 solo) were a career high for the fifth-year defensive back.
He only had one interception this year, which is surprising considering he's had at least two interceptions in all four previous seasons. He's under contract for three more years, so he should continue to be a decent IDP option with 50 to 70 expected tackles and the chance at a couple of interceptions.
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Falcons' Robert Alford ready to expand his game
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Falcons cornerback Robert Alford knows that in order to continue to play at a high level he has to keep expanding his game, per ESPN.com.
Alford wants to be ready if his coaches approach him and ask for the 26-year-old to move down to the slot and play more in a nickleback role.
"I'd love to play outside and nickel," Alford said. "I told the coaches I'd love to play both. Wherever they need me, I'm willing to play. As long as I'm on the field being able to compete and show my talent, I feel good."
Alford recorded 31 tackles and three interceptions in 10 games last season.
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Falcons' Robert Alford to train with retired Ryan Clark this offseason
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Falcons cornerback Robert Alford is expected to train with recently retired cornerback Ryan Clark in Louisiana this offseason, reports ESPN. The former Steelers corner announced his retirement on Wednesday and is expected to serve as an analyst on ESPN. Alford knows Clark through his brother, former Saints corner Fred Booker, who was Clark's college roommate at LSU.
"All the advice and things I do have to offer him he's going to get, from helping him watch film to helping him understand where he was beat on certain plays, to how he can improve himself, physically," Clark said. "But also the mental approach to the game. So I'm excited about getting an opportunity to work with him. Anytime you get a chance to work with a true friend, somebody you've known a long time, it's exciting."
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Falcons to place cornerback Robert Alford on IR
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The Falcons announced cornerback Robert Alford will have surgery on his wrist Monday and will be placed on injured reserve.
Alford has not played since injuring his wrist in Week 11.
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Three injured Falcons ruled out for Week 15 game
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Super wideout Julio Jones (hip) heads a list of inactives posted by the Falcons for their Sunday game against the Steelers. The other two injured inactives are cornerback Robert Alford (wrist) and safety William Moore (foot).
The healthy scratches are quarterback Sean Renfree, linebackers James Anderson and Tyler Starr and tackle Jonathan Scott.
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Falcons list injury report for Week 15
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Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (hip) is the most notable player listed as questionable for Week 14 against Pittsburgh. other players deemed questionable were fullback Patrick DiMarco (illness) and safety William Moore (foot).
Guard Jon Asamoah (back), guard Justin Blalock (back), wide receiver Harry Douglas (foot), defensive end Stansly Maponga (elbow), defensive tackle Paul Soliai (shoulder) and wide receiver Roddy White (ankle) were all labeled as probable.
Meanwhile, cornerback Robert Alford (wrist) was the only player on the report ruled out for Sunday.
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Falcons unveil inactives for Monday Night Football
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The Falcons ruled the following players inactive for Monday's game at Green Bay: cornerback Robert Alford (wrist), quarterback Sean Renfree, linebacker James Anderson, safety Charles Godfrey, offensive tackle Jonathan Scott, linebacker Tyler Starr and defensive end Stansly Maponga (elbow).
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Falcons CB Robert Alford gets the red light for MNF
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Falcons cornerback Robert Alford was officially ruled out for Monday night's contest against Green Bay because of a wrist injury, per the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Alford suffered the injury in Week 11 against Panthers and hasn't been able to return.After sitting out his third straight game this Sunday, he'll look to return Week 15 against the Steelers.
