Outpoll | Arizona Cardinals place TE Travis Vokolek on IR, sign TE Josiah Deguara

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Arizona Cardinals place TE Travis Vokolek on IR, sign TE Josiah Deguara

Arizona Cardinals place TE Travis Vokolek on IR, sign TE Josiah Deguara

21 hours ago7 min read8 comments

The unforgiving nature of the NFL was on full display this week as the Arizona Cardinals were forced to make a swift, calculated roster adjustment, placing tight end Travis Vokolek on injured reserve and promoting Josiah Deguara from the practice squad to the active 53-man roster. This move, while procedural on the surface, cuts to the core of a team's season-long battle with attrition, a war of inches where a single play on a kickoff can irrevocably alter a career trajectory and a franchise's depth chart.Vokolek's season ended as abruptly as it began, carted off the field during the opening kickoff against the Indianapolis Colts—a stark reminder of the physical toll this game exacts, reminiscent of the career-altering injuries that have befallen legends and journeymen alike. Head coach Jonathan Gannon’s confirmation that Vokolek is done for the year underscores a brutal reality: in the NFL, 'next man up' isn't just a cliché; it's a survival mechanism.Stepping into this void is Josiah Deguara, a sixth-year veteran whose career arc tells a story of adaptation and resilience. Drafted in the third round by the Green Bay Packers in 2020 out of Cincinnati, Deguara initially seemed poised for a significant offensive role, peaking in 2021 with a respectable 25 receptions for 245 yards and two touchdowns—numbers that, while not Pro Bowl-caliber, demonstrated a reliable safety valve for Aaron Rodgers, a role not unlike what Trey McBride now occupies for Kyler Murray.Yet, the NFL is a league of constant evolution, and Deguara’s path has since diverged. Following his four seasons in Green Bay, a stint with the Jacksonville Jaguars last year saw his offensive snap count plummet to a mere 87 across 15 games, resulting in a paltry three catches for 14 yards.This statistical decline, however, tells only half the story. Like many players who find their initial promise tempered by the league's harsh realities, Deguara has undergone a professional metamorphosis, transforming from a potential pass-catching threat into a core special teams ace.Logging over 200 special teams snaps for three consecutive seasons is not a footnote; it's a testament to his value, grit, and understanding that a lasting career in this league is often built on the foundation of doing the unglamorous work. His signing is a classic front-office maneuver, prioritizing proven, versatile depth over unknown quantities, a move that echoes the Patriots' dynasty-era philosophy of valuing role players who understand their assignments in all three phases of the game.He now slots in as the third tight end behind the emerging star Trey McBride and Elijah Higgins, providing crucial insurance in a room already decimated by injury, with the original No. 2, Tip Reiman, also sidelined for the season.The Cardinals, demonstrating a keen awareness of the cascading effect of such roster moves, also moved to fortify their practice squad, signing tight end Pharoah Brown and receiver Bryson Green to fill the vacancies created by Deguara's promotion and the earlier signing of quarterback Kedon Slovis. This holistic approach to roster management is what separates reactive teams from proactive ones.While the headline focuses on the IR designation and the promotion, the underlying narrative is one of a franchise meticulously building a competitive ecosystem, understanding that the 53-man roster is a living entity, constantly in flux. For Deguara, this is more than just a change of scenery; it's a critical audition.In a league where special teams prowess can be the difference between a multi-year career and a series of one-year contracts, his ability to immediately contribute in that phase while providing emergency offensive depth could cement his place in the NFL for years to come. For the Cardinals, it’s a low-risk, potentially high-reward bet on a player whose statistical peak may be behind him, but whose professional value, forged in the fires of adaptation, might be just beginning.