Tuesday is tryout day in the NFL and the Arizona Cardinals had four defensive backs in for workouts, including two that played college football in 2023 but haven’t been with an NFL team because of injuries.
Safety Tra Fluellen (6-2, 210) played at Houston Christian and Middle Tennessee, but suffered a torn ACL a year ago in November.
Cornerback Johnny Dixon (5-11, 192) began his college career at South Carolina and finished at Penn State. He played 59 games with 34 starts combined. Sixon suffered a hip injury at the Senior Bowl last January and did not participate at the combine or his pro day.
Dixon was on crutches at the Nittany Lions Pro Day in March and told reporters, “I feel like I proved within the last year that I’m one of the best corners. I’m a versatile corner. I understand that my time isn’t right now. I’m going to get the chance to show who I am. It’s just later on. And, that’s OK. I’m really big into my faith and believe God has a plan for me.”
The other players working out for the Cardinals were:
S Jaylen Key; 6-2, 210; Alabama
Selected by the Jets in the seventh round of the 2024 draft, Key was waived on Aug. 27, was signed to the Jets practice squad the next day, was released Sept. 25, signed to the practice squad again on Oct. 9 and then released Oct. 30.
CB Nick Whiteside II; 6-1, 200; Saginaw Valley State
Signed as an undrafted free agent by the Commanders in 2023, Whiteside was waived on Aug. 29, was signed to the practice squad the following day, was elevated to the game-day roster in Week 17 and then signed to the active roster for the final game of the season. He played in two games.
This year, he was waived on Aug. 27 and hasn’t been on a roster or practice squad since then.
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