Cardinals add to 53-man roster & practice squad

The tackle position has been a thorn in the side of the Arizona Cardinals for some time now.

It started with the fall of Levi Brown and continued with the shifting and struggles of his replacements following his unfortunate departure.

Brown had his detractors who questioned his ability to play at the position, but there was no denying his mainstay ability at tackle, as he started every game there for the past four years before his injury.

D.J. Young was manhandled at the left tackle spot a few weeks ago in Tennessee, which most likely prompted his release from the team on Friday.

Veteran D’Anthony Batiste came in during that game and seemed to solidify that side of the line, which eventually won him the starting job at left tackle.

With so many moving parts, and the team in need of experienced, healthy bodies, especially after getting the news that tackle Jeremy Bridges (thumb) was placed alongside Brown on injured reserve, the club signed tackle Pat McQuistan to a one-year deal.

McQuistan enters his seventh season in the NFL, most recently playing with the Saints in 2011.

McQuistan played in 10 regular season games and both playoff games for New Orleans last season.

Prior to his time with the Saints, McQuistan spent the 2010 season with the Dolphins, playing in all 16 games (eight starts), and 2006-09 win the Cowboys. He played 40 games in his four seasons in Dallas.

McQuistan was originally drafted by the Cowboys in the seventh round (211th overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft.

McQuistan has played in 66 games, with eight starts.

To bolster an already strong corps of linebackers, the Cardinals added Jamaal Westerman, formerly of the Dolphins.

Westerman was awarded to the team on a waiver claim.

Westerman comes to Arizona after spending the preseason in Miami. Westerman signed as a free agent with the Dolphins in March after spending his first three seasons as a member of the New York Jets.

Last season, Westerman participated in a career high 16 games and started three. He had a career high 23 tackles (17 solo), 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

Over his career, Westerman has played in 36 regular season games (three starts) and has 31 tackles (25 solo), 4.5 sacks, four fumble recoveries and one forced fumble.

McQuistan will wear jersey #67 and Westerman will wear jersey #57.

In other news, the Cardinals have assembled their eight-man practice squad, which consists of five players who were released in the 53-man roster cut-down (defensive tackle Ricky Lumpkin, linebacker  Colin Parker, cornerback Larry Parker, tight end Steve Skelton, wide receiver Isaiah Williams), and three other players (tackle Steven Baker, linebacker Ricky Elmore and wide receiver Gerell Robinson).

Baker comes to the Cardinals after spending the preseason with the Colts. Baker signed with Indianapolis as an undrafted rookie free agent out of East Carolina, where he was a four-year letterman, playing in 42 games, including nine starts as a senior in 2011.

Elmore, a former Arizona Wildcat, comes to the Cardinals after spending the preseason with the Chargers.

Elmore was selected in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Packers. He spent the 2011 postseason on the 49ers practice squad before signing with the Chargers on February 6, 2012.

Robinson, a former Sun Devil, spent the preseason with the Broncos as an undrafted rookie free agent.

In his four years in Tempe, Ariz., Robinson played in 47 games (25 starts), and had 135 catches for 2,071 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Robinson’s best season was his senior season, when he caught 77 passes for 1,397 yards.