The Arizona Cardinals have officially declared that outside linebacker Marquis Haynes Sr. is being released, only days after being signed. The release’s motivations are yet unknown. In an attempt to try and fill the vacuum left by edge rusher BJ Ojulari, who is expected to miss the entire season due to a major knee injury, the Cardinals signed Haynes on August 6.
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More about Haynes from the press release sent by the Cardinals upon his signing: Having played in 71 games (two starts) and totaling 92 tackles, 27 quarterback hits, 18 tackles for loss, 14.0 sacks, six passes defensed, four fumble recoveries, one forced fumble, one touchdown, and seven special teams stops, Haynes (6-2, 235) spent the last six seasons with the Panthers (2018–23). After starting the season on injured reserve, he played in seven games (one start) with Carolina and finished with 16 tackles, three tackles for loss, two quarterback hits, and a sack. In 2022, Haynes recorded career highs for tackles (26) sacks (5.0), passes defensed (four), tackles for loss (seven), quarterback hits (13), and tackles for loss (seven).
The 30-year-old Haynes, who left Ole Miss as the Rebels’ career leader in tackles for loss (47.5) and sacks (32.0), was selected by Carolina in the fourth round (136th overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft. Dennis Gardeck and Zaven Collins, two of the Cardinals’ finest edge players, were key components in assisting Arizona to just 33 team sacks in 2023. Names like Xavier Thomas, Jesse Luketa, Victor Dimukeje, and Cameron Thomas are listed beneath them. Does Arizona want to use outside linebacker more extensively? We’ll see, but it’s definitely an intriguing moment to release a player the day before their preseason debut.
