Cardinals claim and award rookie tackle Albert Reese off waivers

Arizona added an offensive line piece after claiming rookie Albert Reese and receiving him off waivers, shifting depth plans as the Cardinals manage injuries and illnesses on the right side.

By The Apex Times Newsroom1 min readAI-assisted Apex article

The Arizona Cardinals awarded rookie tackle Albert Reese off waivers on Wednesday, following a claim that began with his time on the Carolina Panthers roster. The transaction gives Arizona another offensive line option and creates a roster decision point elsewhere, since the team will need a corresponding move at some stage.

Reese, an undrafted player, had been on Carolina’s roster and was listed as a healthy scratch for the Panthers’ first five games, before Arizona took him off waivers. Arizona’s announcement notes Reese is 6-foot-7 and 325 pounds, and that he played tackle at Mississippi State in college.

Arizona’s current tackle picture is framed around ongoing turnover. The Cardinals have a presumed long-term tackle in rookie Jayden Williams, who is playing left tackle after Paris Johnson Jr. suffered a season-ending injury. Veteran Elijah Wilkinson is manning right tackle, while second-year tackle Josh Fryar is identified as the other top reserve option.

The Cardinals also referenced availability concerns on the right side: veteran Jedrick Wills, who had been signed, missed practice on Wednesday with an illness. That detail underscores why adding a tackle depth piece like Reese can matter even when the team’s top rotation is defined.

Why It Matters

The move adds immediate depth to the Cardinals’ offensive line as availability changes on the tackle rotation.
Arizona’s left tackle plan appears to be anchored by Jayden Williams, while Reese gives the team extra insurance on the right-side depth chart.
Because the team will have to make a corresponding roster move, the Reese addition may foreshadow a broader shake-up in who takes up active roster or reserve spots.

Sources

Key Facts

The Cardinals claimed and then received rookie tackle Albert Reese off waivers, awarding him to Arizona on Wednesday.
The Panthers had listed Reese as a healthy scratch in their first five games before Arizona’s claim.
Reese is 6-foot-7 and 325 pounds, and he played tackle at Mississippi State in college.
Arizona stated it will need a corresponding roster move at some point in connection with the addition.
The Cardinals’ tackle depth context includes rookie Jayden Williams at left tackle, with Elijah Wilkinson at right tackle, Josh Fryar as a reserve, and Jedrick Wills missing Wednesday practice due to an illness.