Cardinals release former first-round wide receiver Kevin White, sign Michael Crabtree

One day after losing one of their rookie wide receivers to a fracture in his hand, the Cardinals released one of the few receivers with any experience they had, cutting Kevin White on Wednesday.

They later added another veteran receiver, however, signing free agent Michael Crabtree to a one-year deal. No contract details were provided, as per club policy, but the deal is believed to be somewhere between $4-6 million.

White, 27, opened the preseason by being listed as one of three starters in coach Kliff Kingsbury’s offense along with Larry Fitzgerald and Christian Kirk. White, however, suffered a hamstring injury and wasn’t available for either of the Cardinals’ first two preseason games against the Chargers and Raiders.

On Tuesday, it was learned first-year wide receiver Hakeem Butler, the team’s fourth-round pick out of Iowa State, sustained an avulsion fracture in his hand and could be headed for the injured list. The Cardinals have not yet said what their plans are for Butler.

The Cardinals signed White as an unrestricted free agent on March 15, hoping he could compete for one of the top spots in the receiver rotation and return to the form he had in 2015 when he was a first-round pick out of West Virginia by the Bears.

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A series of devastating injuries derailed White’s first few seasons in the NFL, although he was confident he could resurrect things with the Cardinals.

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“Oh man, this could revive my career,” he told the Arizona Republic in the spring. “The fans haven’t seen Kevin White yet. … I’m still the same player, even better, to be honest. I’m mentally stronger and the speed hasn’t gone anywhere.

“I just want to do what I came here to do. I want to be that dominant player, be a threat on the field, not just a guy out there. People will see it.”

White, who ran a 4.35 in the 40-yard dash during his rookie workouts at the scouting combine, had his moments during offseason practices and mini-camps. He also flashed early in training camp, showing speed and versatility as he was getting practice reps as a secondary returner on punt and kickoff duty.

Cutting White opened the door to sign Crabtree, who had visited the Cardinals several days ago and, after working out for the team, was reported to have been offered a contract, which he apparently declined at the time.

Crabtree himself was a top-10 pick, going No. 10 to the San Francisco 49ers in 2009 and spending six years with the team. He has accumulated 633 catches for 7,477 yards and 54 touchdowns in 10 seasons. He spent 2018 with the Baltimore Ravens and previously was with the Raiders.  

Now in Arizona, he is expected to get quality playing time as the team’s No. 3 wide receiver alongside veteran Larry Fitzgerald and second-year pro Christian Kirk, although he may have to work his way up the depth chart during the remainder of the preseason.