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Sneaky Cardinals sign Marion Grice

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Marion Grice very well could’ve been on the Chargers’ 53-man roster Sunday.

He chose another option.

Grice, a rookie sixth-round draft pick on San Diego’s practice squad, took a physical Monday in Arizona and is signing a two-year deal with the Cardinals, a source said. His departure forces his ex-team to acquire a running back from outside the organization, working through a situation in which two healthy backs are currently on the roster.

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Grice was the only in-house candidate the Chargers had. The Cardinals made an aggressive play for the Arizona State product, who has a say in whether he’ll join an outside team’s 53-man roster or remain with his current club.

Grice chose Arizona. He fills the need for depth in the wake of Jonathan Dwyer’s domestic violence situation.

San Diego is in the running back market.

It fully plans to acquire one before it steps onto the practice field Wednesday morning. Donald Brown and undrafted rookie Branden Oliver are the only healthy backs on the roster. In an eight-day span, the Chargers lost Ryan Mathews (MCL sprain) for about a month and, on Sunday, Danny Woodhead for the season to a broken right fibula and high ankle sprain.

The Cardinals were aware of Woodhead’s injury.

Targeting Grice, they jumped to sign him.

His best game this preseason coincidentally came against them. On Aug. 28, he had 17 carries for 79 yards in the fourth exhibition at Qualcomm Stadium. Ultimately, the Chargers kept Oliver on the roster over Grice.

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