Deionte

Thompson

Thompson has mostly played special teams for the Cardinals -- he’s played at least 41% of the special teams snaps in every season since he was drafted in 2019. Thompson had just 71 defensive snaps in 2021 and just six in limited 2022 action. He has a chance to pop up elsewhere due to the special teams work. The Cardinals also promoted Jesse Luketa, who they view as a special-teams prospect, to the active roster from their practice squad.

Thompson only missed one week of action while stuck on the team’s COVID list. He’s totaled 24 tackles on 42% of the Cardinals’ defensive snaps this season.

It is not known at this time if Thompson tested positive or has been in contact with someone who has. This is the Cardinals’ fourth player to land on the list this season. Unfortunately, the team is getting thin at safety, with Chris Banjo likely starting opposite Budda Baker against the Patriots in Week 12 if Thompson is not cleared in time.

Thompson missed the Combine with a torn ligament in his wrist. His draft fall was due to degenerative knee concerns, but he’s on schedule in his recovery from wrist surgery. The Cardinals look comfortable with Thompson’s health status going into the offseason program.

Thompson was expected to be drafted earlier, but NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports a degenerative knee issue knocked him off several teams’ boards altogether. He is also recovering from wrist surgery. Thompson (6’1/195) turned pro as a redshirt junior after playing special teams as a freshman and sophomore, then breaking out for eight pass breakups, two picks, and four forced fumbles as a 15-game starter and earning first-team All-SEC in 2018. A true deep safety in Nick Saban’s secondary, Thompson offers NFL-caliber range, instincts, and ball skills on game tape. That is if he can stay healthy.

Thompson (6'2/196) was the quarterback of Alabama’s secondary as a consensus All-American junior. Thompson was a rotational player early in his career and started just two games prior to 2018. The Thompson hype has cooled, but he’s in the Day 1 mix.

Thompson was arrested in April of 2017 after being accused of kicking a man in the head during a brawl in March of that year. “I believe that (the district attorney’s office) took another look at the information that they had in regard to the case and reconsidered their position,” Thompson’s lawyer, Sean Villery-Samuel said. “And after doing that, I believe they came to the right conclusion, that he had nothing to do with this.” One of the top safeties available in the draft, Thompson has a good shot to come off the board on Day 1.

He’ll sit out the Combine, but this isn’t a long-term injury. A breakout junior season has Thompson near the top of this year’s safety class. It’s possible this pushes him out of the Day 1 mix.