The Arizona Cardinals signed rookie running back Corey Kiner to the active roster off the Minnesota Vikings’ practice squad on Tuesday.
Arizona also signed linebacker Eku Leota to the practice squad and released running back Jermar Jefferson from the active roster. Practice squad running backs Montrell Johnson Jr. and Sincere McCormick were also cut.
The running backs reshuffle leaves four running backs on the active roster and none on the practice squad while Trey Benson (knee) remains on the designated to return from injured reserve list. The Cardinals opened Benson’s 21-day practice window on Nov. 19, so they have until Dec. 10 to activate him or else he will be lost for the season.
Benson had been limited in practice from his designation up until last Thursday and Friday, when he was a nonparticipant. He has not played since Week 4.
Emari Demercado, meanwhile, has missed the last two games and did not practice at all last week due to an ankle injury. Bam Knight and Michael Carter split carries in Sunday’s loss to the Buccaneers.
Cardinals sign Corey Kiner
Kiner played college ball at LSU and then Cincinnati before going undrafted this past spring. He spent the offseason with the San Francisco 49ers before suffering a high-ankle sprain against the Las Vegas Raiders on a big run during the preseason.
He was waived with an injury designation and later signed to the Vikings’ practice squad.
The 5-foot-9, 210-pound running back ran a 4.57-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Draft Combine last offseason after an accomplished career at Cincinnati. He ran for over 1,000 yards in each of his final two collegiate seasons.
Kiner forced 80 missed tackles in 2024, which ranked fourth in FBS, per Pro Football Focus.
Per NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein:
The more film you watch, the more you realize how rare it is to see Kiner brought down by the first tackler. … He’s not super fast, but he runs with unchanging pace and a downhill tilt. Kiner is functional in the passing game but he’s not a third-down back and has no real special teams experience. He maximizes each carry to the best of his ability but lacks the burst and athleticism to survive behind a subpar line.
Corey Kiner: like that 😤#Big12FB | 📺 ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/EYsgCaRgIU
— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) December 1, 2024
Kiner ran for 102 yards during a win over Arizona State in 2024.
Leota has 14 games of NFL experience over the past three years with the Carolina Panthers, Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints. He played three games this season for New Orleans, exclusively on special teams.
Jefferson had not played an offensive snap for the Cardinals this year and sparingly played special teams when active.
