Cardinals release former South Carolina safety D.J. Swearinger
By Dave Holcomb
Published:
Safety D.J. Swearinger’s second tenure with the Arizona Cardinals has come to a close. The Cardinals have reportedly released the veteran safety after another falling to 0-3-1 on Sunday.
Cardinals releasing veteran safety DJ Swearinger, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 30, 2019
Swearinger played every defensive snap in the first three weeks and all but one snap, recording eight combined tackles, Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks. He’s posted 28 combined tackles in four games, but the Cardinals will likely now turn to rookie and fifth-round pick Deionte Thompson to start in Swearinger’s place. Arizona is still searching for its first win under first-year head coach Kliff Kingsbury.
The 28-year-old first joined the Cardinals midway through the 2015 season and was part of an Arizona defense that helped the Cardinals finish 13-3. He also played in Arizona during 2016 but left in free agency for the Washington Redskins in 2017. Swearinger returned to the Cardinals last December after the Redskins cut him.
Swearinger has also played for the Houston Texans and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. At South Carolina, he posted 244 total tackles, including 6.5 for loss and recorded six interceptions from 2009-12.
Dave covers SEC football for Saturday Down South.
