Bahamian National Football League (NFL) professional player Denzel Daxon has been picked up by the Arizona Cardinals and is now set to join the team’s practice squad for the 2025 NFL season.
The Cardinals were able to sign Daxon through the NFL’s International Player Pathway (IPP) Program, which gives teams an option to add an additional player to their practice squad rosters.
The Crooked Island native was signed to the Cardinals’ roster along with linebacker Jared Bartlett on Tuesday. The team released offensive lineman Roy Mbaeteka to make room for Daxon on the practice squad.
Prior to joining the Cardinals, Daxon got some reps in with the Dallas Cowboys during the 2025 NFL preseason, but was ultimately cut by the team at the end of preseason play.
He played in three preseason games. His best performance came in a 31-21 loss against the Los Angeles Rams in the NFL’s preseason opener.
The Bahamian defensive tackle recorded the team’s only sack in that game and had two solo tackles. He went on to finish preseason play with five total tackles and one sack.
The 26-year-old NFL player was signed by the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent (UDFA) in April 2024 and made the team’s practice squad for the 2024 season.
Prior to his NFL career, Daxon was a late bloomer. He started playing football at 17-years-old while attending Miami Carol City Senior High School in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Daxon furthered his craft at Ohio University before transferring to the University of Illinois in the spring of 2023. While there, he played defensive tackle for the Illinois Fighting Illini.
During his final season, he started in 11 of his 12 games and totaled 27 tackles, recording three or more tackles in seven games. Additionally, he more than doubled his career numbers while in college.
Daxon will remain with the Cardinals this season as an internationally exempted player, which means he will have the opportunity to be called up to play in games, similar to other players on the practice squad.
Bahamian wide receiver Michael Strachan is in search of a new NFL home after being released by the Washington Commanders on August 14.
The Commanders served as Strachan’s third NFL team since being drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the seventh round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
The Grand Bahama native has recorded 130 receiving yards and six receptions in 23 games played over the course of his NFL career.
He made the Commanders’ practice squad last October but was subsequently released by the team in December. Following his release, the team picked him up on a reserve/futures contract in January, and he stayed with the team until he was released in August.
The NFL season began on Thursday.