Updated

The Arizona Cardinals have released rookie tight end D.C. Jefferson and have signed tight end Jake Ballard.

Coach Bruce Arians says the release of Jefferson had nothing to do with the young player's arrest in Scottsdale on suspicion of extreme DUI Friday night. Arians says the decision to release Jefferson had been made earlier Friday.

Jefferson was a seventh-round draft pick out of Rutgers.

The 6-foot-6, 275-pound Ballard appeared in 15 games for the New York Giants in 2010 and 2011. He signed with New England but missed all of last season with a knee injury and was released by the Patriots on Aug. 30.