Johnathan

Joseph

The No. 24 overall pick of the 2006 Draft, Joseph spent the first five years of his career in Cincinnati before becoming a Texans mainstay for nearly an entire decade. Only last year did he become a journeyman, splitting time between the Titans and Cardinals before landing on injured reserve with a neck issue. Joseph never became a first-team All-Pro but made the second team twice. He was also a two-time Pro Bowler. Joseph was just a really solid corner, picking off 32 career passes and housing seven of them. He was also durable, missing only 10 games in nine years with the Texans.

Joseph played under 30% of snaps in four appearances after coming over from the Titans. He’ll be sidelined at least the next three games with a stinger but could return if the Cardinals make the postseason. Arizona activated starting DL Jordan Phillips and CB Kevin Peterson from IR in corresponding moves

It’s unclear if Joseph is signing to the practice squad or active roster, but it’s likely the active roster since his addition comes just two days after he was released by the Titans. Joseph was brutally bad in Tennessee, but the Cardinals are struggling for answers at cornerback right now. Joseph will be ineligible to suit up for Week 9 against the Dolphins, but he figures to immediately mix in for snaps after that.

Signed in April, 36-year-old Joseph was having an up-and-down season before getting unmasked against the Bengals in Week 8. Joe Burrow relentlessly exploited the veteran’s coverage. Joseph has played 375 snaps this season, so it will require major adjustments for the Titans’ struggling defense. They will move forward with Malcolm Butler, Kristian Fulton and Chris Jackson as their top-three corners. Adoree’ Jackson (knee) is on injured reserve.

Joseph’s familiarity with coach Mike Vrabel’s scheme likely moved this one along. The 14-year veteran won’t offer much help as an every-down player in his age-36 season, but he will serve as a successful role model and mentor for second-round CB Kristian Fulton all the while working in a rotational role amongst a thin depth chart. This addition also likely pits free agent CB Logan Ryan on the outside looking in. Joseph graded as PFF’s No. 83 corner among 128 qualifiers just last year.

Joseph will enter free agency and should be considered a low-end starter. PFF graded him as the No. 83 corner among 128 qualifiers, and he’s only getting older. Joseph’s experience will be valuable to a younger roster, however, so expect Joseph to have some level of a market.

LaCanfora backs up defensive coordinator Wade Phillips’ promise that the Texans will aggressively target defensive needs this summer. The front office and coaching staff feel pressure to “finally break through” with the first playoff berth in franchise history, and the first step is fixing the league’s worst secondary. LaCanfora expects Johnathan Joseph to be a fallback option. Safety Gerald Sensabaugh, who played under Phillips in Dallas, could be targeted as well.

Huff’s salary went from $945,000 in 2009 to $5.75 million in 2010. This rule is a relative of the “30 percent” rule that prohibited teams from locking up players to long-term deals that would pay them 30 percent more than their 2010 salary in any future year. Depending on the outcome of the CBA, Huff will either hit the open market or the Raiders will have to fork over $6.325 million if he’s ruled a restricted free agent. Other players affected by the same rule: Haloti Ngata, Johnathan Joseph, DeAngelo Williams, Chad Greenway, and Tamba Hali.

A limited participant at practice the past two days, Joseph will return to the fold Sunday at Arrowhead after sitting out last week’s win over Buffalo. No longer a difference maker, the veteran graded as PFF’s No. 83 cornerback out of 128 positional qualifiers during the regular season.

It’s an upgrade to Josh Allen and John Brown’s matchups. The Texans are getting J.J. Watt back, but not having Joseph is a concern for an already struggling secondary.