The Cardinals are adding some mijo things to the roster.
Former starting guard Will Hernandez, who had reached free agency after tearing his left ACL last season, has returned to the Cardinals after signing a one-year deal on Thursday.
Hernandez, who turns 30 in September, had recently announced on social media he had been “officially cleared” to play from his injury. He will, however, start his time with the Cardinals on the active Physically Unable To Perform list as he gets back to playing shape.
"He plays the right way" coach Jonathan Gannon said. "He's got a good attitude, and he's a good player."
Gannon said Hernandez is "mean and nasty" on the field.
Hernandez hurt his knee in San Francisco Week 5 last season in a win over the 49ers. He has started all 35 of the games he played for the Cardinals the past three seasons at right guard.
It will be interesting to see how his arrival eventually impacts the roster. Second-year guard Isaiah Adams started the last five games at right guard last season and has held the first-string spot all offseason. He also earned praise in training camp from coach Jonathan Gannon. Evan Brown returned this season as the starter at left guard.
Gannon said Adams and Brown will remain the starters at guard.
"Isaiah is worried about Isaiah," Gannon said. "His 'confidence stack' -- vision, belief, proof-is-in-the-pudding -- is high right now, because he's doing it. He's improved a lot."
Regardless, depth automatically gets better. Among the other options for guard on the roster: Royce Newman, Jake Curhan, Nick Leverett, and rookie Hayden Conner.
"The plan for right now is for Isaiah to be the starter at right guard and Evan Brown at left and to get Will healthy and then get him on the practice field and see where he is at," Gannon said.
To make room on the roster for Hernandez, the team released cornerback Keni-H Lovely.
Hernandez spent Thursday's practice on the side watching his new/old teammates, his mustache already in regular season form.
The Cardinals closed out training camp at State Farm Stadium on Thursday. The team will open the preseason schedule on Saturday at home against the Chiefs.
