The Arizona Cardinals’ 2021 schedule is out. Because of free agency and trades, there are a number of games on the schedule where they will face former Cardinals players and some where current Cardinals are facing their former team.
Which are those games on the Cardinals’ schedule?\
Cardinals at Titans, Week 1
The Cardinals will open the season in Nashville to face the Tennessee Titans. One of their additions in free agency was cornerback Malcolm Butler. Butler was released by the Titans after three years with the team.
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Vikings at Cardinals, Week 2
The Cardinals’ season opener will be the return of cornerback Patrick Peterson. Peterson spent 10 years with the Cardinals and left in free agency after the team did not make him a contract offer.
Center Mason Cole also returns to State Farm Stadium. He was traded to the Vikings after Arizona acquired center Rodney Hudson.
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Texas at Cardinals, Week 7
Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
This is a double revenge/reunion game. The Cardinals have both receiver DeAndre Hopkins and defensive end J.J. Watt who are former Texans players.
Watt asked for his release this offseason and signed with the Cardinals. The Texans traded Hopkins last year. Watt spent a decade with the Texans. Hopkins spent seven years there.
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Panthers at Cardinals, Week 10
When the Panthers come to town, they will have two former Cardinals — defensive end Haason Reddick and tight end Dan Arnold.
Reddick had a career-high 12.5 sacks last season before hitting free agency. The Cardinals did not re-sign him. He has already suggested on social media that he has this game marked on the schedule.
Arnold also signed with the Panthers this offseason after the Cardinals did not bring him back.
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Cardinals at Lions, Week 15
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
New Cardinals kicker Matt Prater spent the last seven years with the Lions. He actually kicked the game-winning field goal for the Lions to beat the Cardinals last year.
In Week 15, he returns to Detroit to face his former team.
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