Bubble boys: Cardinals have tough decisions to make for 53-man roster

It was smooth sailing for the Arizona Cardinals through the first week of 2024 training camp. All of their players were present, all of their players were healthy and coach Jonathan Gannon made sure to knock on wood when addressing that good fortune, lest he anger the football gods.

With just three days remaining until NFL teams’ 53-man rosters are due, the picture has changed significantly.

It began with a season-ending injury to outside linebacker BJ Ojulari three weeks ago. It continued with some pecking order changes based on preseason play, and on Friday, two key contributors were crossed off the list of likely participants for the season opener on Sept. 8 in Buffalo.

Defensive lineman Darius Robinson went down in practice on Thursday with what Gannon said was a calf injury that could shelve him for the start of the season. Then receiver Zay Jones was suspended for five games for violating the league’s code of conduct. 

As the Cardinals prepare for the final preseason game in Denver on Sunday, there are players who stand to benefit from those losses, and there are others who know they are fighting for their jobs. This is their final chance to show something to the coaching staff and management staff before cuts are due at 1 p.m. on Tuesday.

“I wouldn’t say anxiousness; I would say their urgency is up,” said Gannon when asked what he senses from his players. “Reps are gold and they know they need those to show what they can do so there’s a sense of urgency about that, as there’s been all camp. 

“But now I always say, there comes a clock. You can kind of see it. It’s closer [than] when we started camp, and they know what’s around the corner. So I would think it picks up a touch.”

Unlike the vast majority of the NFL, the Cardinals play their final preseason game on Sunday, giving them less time to make decisions than all but three other teams.

“You’re not going to get to wait on it too much,” Gannon said. “You’ve got one or two days and you’ve got to make decisions, but I think there’s enough time after the Denver game to do that. Monti and I… we have conversations every day.”

When those conversations finally come for the players left on the outside, Gannon said it will be one of the toughest days of the year.

“You want to keep all 90 because we’ve got good guys in that locker room,” he said. “You just know that that’s the business part of NFL football. You can’t keep them all so that’s always a tough thing, but at the end of the day, you’ve got to do what’s best for the team moving forward and they know that.”

PHNX Cardinals’ Bo Brack, Johnny Venerable and I discussed the roster cuts in a video recorded before the Robinson and Jones news broke. You can watch that below.

Last season’s initial 53-man roster is a good starting point to get a sense of what the Cardinals might do with this season’s roster, but there are several factors that could alter that breakdown. Now in his second season, GM Monti Ossenfort has brought in a lot of his own players, the new kickoff rules may foster some tweaks in body or position types needed on special teams, and Ossenfort admitted in training camp that the expanded practice squad (now 17 players including a qualifying international player) has altered his approach to roster building.

Here’s a look at the Cardinals 2023 initial 53-man roster, broken down by position.

Position	Players kept
*QB	2
RB	2
WR	6
TE	4
OL	8
DL	7
OLB	7
ILB	5
CB	5
S	3
#Specialists	2

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When viewing the current depth charts for the offense, defense and special teams, there are obvious locks to make the roster, and there are those still battling.

It’s important to remember that Ossenfort draft picks are more likely to earn the benefit of the doubt and remain on the roster (or at least the practice squad). It’s also important to remember that the Cardinals will be scanning other teams’ lists of cuts (as well as free agency) to see if there are opportunities to improve the roster with external additions..

Let’s break those down by position.

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Cardinals quarterbacks

Lock: Kyler Murray.
Battling: Clayton Tune, Desmond Ridder.
Analysis: Ossenfort traded receiver Rondale Moore, who was a 2021 second-round pick, to the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for Ridder. That seemed a pretty clear sign that Ridder would be Murray’s backup. He had 19 games of experience (17 starts) with Atlanta, completing 249 of 388 passes (64 completion percentage) for 3,544 yards, 14 TDs and 12 interceptions with a composite passer rating of 84.1.

But Ridder has done little to separate himself in the preseason. He has lacked touch on his passes, he hasn’t shown a great feel for the offense and Tune has outplayed him. Tune has completed 23 of 34 passes (67.6 percent) for 242 yards and a TD for a 97.9 passer rating. Ridder has completed 10 of 19 for 114 yards and a 70.9 passer rating.

It would not be a shock to see the Cardinals cut Ridder, acquire a veteran QB when roster cuts come around the NFL and then put Tune in the No. 3 hole to continue his development.

Receivers

Locks: Marvin Harrison Jr.; Michael Wilson, Greg Dortch, (Zay Jones).
Battling: Chris Moore, Zach Pascal, Tejhuan Palmer, Xavier Weaver.
Analysis: Jones will be on this roster when he returns from suspension. The Cardinals were aware of his off-field issues before signing him. His absence may open up a spot for a player such as Weaver, who has popped in the return game, including a 37-yard kick return against the Indianapolis Colts.

You’d have to think a veteran such as Moore could help such a young unit. He has been a possession receiver for most of his career, but he averaged a career-high 19.3 yards per catch last season with the Titans.

The Cardinals selected Palmer in the sixth round this year. He’ll stick around, but he could be a practice squad player. Pascal can add to special teams.

Tight ends

Locks: Trey McBride, Elijah Higgins, Tip Reiman.
Battling: Travis Vokolek, Blake Whiteheart, Bernard Seikovits.
Analysis: With only one roster spot potentially available at this position, it could come down to special teams contributions.

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Running backs

Locks: James Conner, Trey Benson.
Battling: Michael Carter, DeeJay Dallas, Emari Demercado.
Analysis: For what it’s worth, Demercado is listed ahead of Carter and Dallas on the depth chart. Dallas has great value in the return game and Carter has made plays in the preseason (9 carries, 50 yards, TD).

Demercado addressed the coming cuts on Friday when he spoke to the media.

“You don’t want to work yourself up,” he said. “You just go home and spend time with my family. I just moved into my house last month. We’re trying to decorate now so that that keeps me busy a lot of time; a lot of boxes to break down.”

Demercado, who has excelled in pass protection, doesn’t even know if that home will be his home this season.

“That’s definitely another stresser: ‘Am I buying this house and am I going to be here?'” he said. “But I like Arizona so even if, God forbid I wasn’t here, this is a great place to be.

“Last year I prayed on it. This year I’m gonna pray on it. Whatever is meant to be will be. I’m excited for what the future holds for me.”

Offensive line

Locks: Paris Johnson Jr., Evan Brown, Hjalte Froholdt, Will Hernandez, Jonah Williams, Kelvin Beachum.
Battling: Isaiah Adams, Jon Gaines, Trystan Colon, Elijah Wilkinson, Marquis Hayes, Christian Jones.
Analysis: Adams is a 2024 third-round pick, and the Cardinals are happy with Gaines’ progression and devotion. Again, the practice squad could play a role here and help players such as Hayes. Jones and Wilkinson have had rough preseasons to date.

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Defensive linemen

Locks: Bilal Nichols, Roy Lopez, Justin Jones, LJ Collier, Dante Stills (Darius Robinson).
Battling: Khyiris Tonga, Naquan Jones.
Analysis: Tonga’s ability as a natural nose guard could give him an edge. Robinson could start the season on IR, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, and that would make sense, given the timeline for recovery.

#AZCardinals first-round DL Darius Robinson suffered a calf injury that is considered a multi-week injury after scans, sources say. Possible he could begin the season on Injured Reserve. If so, the earliest return would be Week 5. pic.twitter.com/FhyKihnhNR

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 24, 2024

Outside linebackers

Locks: Zaven Collins, Dennis Gardeck, Xavier Thomas.
Battling: Jesse Luketa, Cam Thomas, Victor Dimukeje.
Analysis: The Cardinals kept seven outside linebackers last season. With Ojulari’s injury, and Robinson’s’ inability to impact the edge in spot duty while he is injured, there is room here to add via free agency or other teams’ cuts. Luketa will likely earn a roster spot.

Inside linebackers

Locks: Kyzir White, Mack Wilson Sr., Owen Pappoe, Krys Barnes.
Battling: Markus Bailey, Tyreek Maddox-Williams.
Analysis: The Cardinals kept five inside linebackers last season. Bailey has four years of NFL experience (Cincinnati). Maddox-Williams spent much of last season on the practice squad, appearing in three games.

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Cornerbacks

Locks: Sean Murphy-Bunting, Garrett Williams, Max Melton, Starling Thomas V.
Battling: Kei’Trel Clark, Elijah Jones, Divaad Wilson, Bobby Price, Jaden Davis.
Analysis: Jones is a 2024 third-round pick. Plenty of analysts view Clark as a bubble boy, but the Cardinals kept five corners last season. Unless they decide to look for outside help, Clark has a good chance to make this roster. He has played well in the preseason.

Safeties

Locks: Budda Baker, Jalen Thompson, Dadrion Taylor-Demerson.
Battling: Darren Hall, Andre Chachere.
Analysis: Hall has played well in the preseason (nine tackles, three pass deflections and a forced fumble). Gannon has noticed, but the Cardinals only kept three safeties last season.

Specialists

Locks: K Matt Prater, P Blake Gillikin, LS Aaron Brewer
Analysis: The Cardinals may cut Brewer again to create roster flexibility, but he will be the long snapper when the season begins.

Top illustration via Sidney Pinger, ALLCITY Sports

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