When the NFL preseason reached Week 2 last year, cornerback Starling Thomas V was two weeks away from being released by the Detroit Lions. This year, the former Ramsay High School and UAB star is battling for a starting spot with the Arizona Cardinals.
“I just feel like I’ve invested and sacrificed in myself and the game as a whole,” Thomas said Monday of the change. “This offseason, I didn’t go home. I actually stayed here and worked with (safeties) Budda (Baker) and (Jalen Thompson) all offseason. Just being around those guys, they say when you’re surrounded by good people, you become good yourself. So, being around two Pro Bowl players, man, I’m trying to become one myself, so just hanging out with those guys has been very rewarding for me.”
Thomas was named All-Conference USA at UAB in 2022, but went undrafted in 2023. Thomas signed with the Lions. When he failed to survive the 53-player roster cut for the regular season at the end of the preseason with Detroit, the Cardinals claimed him off the waivers list for their 53rd year.
Thomas did not play in the first four games of 2023, but then played in 12 of the remaining 13 games and started seven of them.
“I feel like the starts showed me that I’m capable of playing,” Thomas said. “I wasn’t nervous. I just went out there and played my game and had fun. Even though I had a lot of ups and downs last season, I feel like I pushed myself to the limit every time. I didn’t back down from anything. I went at it full steam ahead, and now I’ve got those starts behind me and can play my game the way I am and have more confidence in our defense.”
During the offseason, Arizona aimed to improve the cornerback position by signing Sean Murphy-Bunting as a free agent and drafting Max Melton in the second round, Elijah Jones in the third round and Jaden Davis in the seventh round.
The Cardinals’ first preseason lineup featured Murphy-Bunting and Thomas as starters with Garrett Williams back at slot corner.
“I embrace that role of being an underdog and someone who isn’t talked about much,” Thomas said. “They brought competition into the game and I feel like that’s improved my game.”
“I’m just happy to be here. I didn’t get drafted, so I’m used to not being talked about. I’m used to being an underdog, and I just want to keep proving that I belong and keep showing up on Sundays.”
Thomas started 24 defensive plays in Arizona’s season-opening Cardinals loss to the New Orleans Saints last week and caught what should have been an interception on a pass.
This week, Arizona plays the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. CDT at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis and prepares for their regular season opener on September 8 against the Buffalo Bills.
The Alabama game of the week is the Philadelphia Eagles vs. New England Patriots game on Thursday night. Twenty players from Alabama high schools and colleges are on the teams’ active rosters for this game.
Several television stations in Alabama are broadcasting preseason games this month. The Buccaneers, Atlanta Falcons, Jacksonville Jaguars, New Orleans Saints and Tennessee Titans are expected to be televised by at least one station in the state.
The full preseason schedule in Week 2 (with all Central times and point spreads from Catena):
Thursday
· Philadelphia Eagles at New England Patriots (-2.5), 6:00 p.m. (NFL Network)
Saturday
· Atlanta Falcons at Baltimore Ravens (-1), 11 a.m. (WBRC 6.1, WTBM 24.2, WAFF 48.3, WTVY 4.1)
· Cincinnati Bengals at Chicago Bears (-6), 12:00 p.m. (NFL Network)
· New York Giants at Houston Texans (-2.5), 12:00 p.m.
· Detroit Lions at Kansas City Chiefs (-6.5), 3:00 p.m. (NFL Network)
· Minnesota Vikings at Cleveland Browns (-5), 3:25 p.m.
· New York Jets (-1) at Carolina Panthers, 6 p.m.
· Arizona Cardinals at Indianapolis Colts (-3), 6 p.m.
· Washington Commanders at Miami Dolphins (-1), 6 p.m.
· Buffalo Bills at Pittsburgh Steelers (-4.5), 6:00 p.m. (NFL Network)
· Seattle Seahawks (-1) at Tennessee Titans, 6 p.m. (WHNT 19.1)
· Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Chargers (-1), 6:05 p.m.
· Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Jacksonville Jaguars (-3), 6:30 p.m. (WPMI 15.1, WBRC 6.1, WTBM 24.2, WTVY 4.2, WMBB 13.1)
· Dallas Cowboys at Las Vegas Raiders (-6.5), 9 p.m. (NFL Network)
Sunday
· Green Bay Packers at Denver Broncos (-7), 7:00 p.m. (NFL Network)
· New Orleans Saints (-1) at San Francisco 49ers, 7 p.m. (FOX)
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.
