The cuts are in. The Arizona Cardinals whittled their ranks to the initial 53-man roster on Tuesday, and there were a handful of mild surprises that will be discussed below.

In addition to the cuts, the Cardinals placed offensive lineman Christian Jones, running back Tony Jones Jr. and defensive lineman Darius Robinson on injured reserve. Christian Jones and Robinson have both been designated to return. The Cardinals also waived/injured tight end Sage Surratt.

Keep in mind that this roster will be fluid throughout the season, but particularly now when there are so many available players flooding the market. GM Monti Ossenfort and the pro scouting staff have undoubtedly identified players who might be able to help Arizona, so look for more moves this week and next as the team tries to solidify most of the roster ahead of the season opener in Buffalo on Sept. 8.

The expanded, 17-man practice squad (including qualified international player/tight end Bernard Seikovits) will be announced after players that need to clear waivers have cleared — at 9 AM on Wednesday.

Here is a numbers breakdown of the 53-man roster by position.

Position	Number
QB	2
RB	4
TE	4
WR	6
OL	9
DL	6
ILB	3
OLB	5
CB	6
S	5
Specialists	3

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Here is a breakdown of each position group with PHNX Cardinals staff members Bo Brack and Johnny Venerable offering their analysis of the decisions and the makeup of each group.

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Cardinals quarterbacks

Keepers: Kyler Murray, Clayton Tune.
Notable cut: Desmond Ridder.

Bo Brack: “There was no path forward for Desmond Ridder. He just didn’t show anything throughout OTAs, to training camp, to joint practices, to preseason action. It was just time for the Cardinals to cut bait, just like the Falcons did. They’ll use Clayton Tune in the interim and I think they will seek a backup quarterback here shortly; within the next 24 to 48 hours.

“I would say it would probably take a guy being in the system three weeks to a month to really kind of get a grasp of the offense. If he’s coming from a similar system like Kevin Stefanski in Cleveland, I think that learning curve could be a little shorter. If it’s somebody being completely fresh to the system, I would say at least a month before you can realistically believe they could get into a lineup and play ball.” 

Johnny Venerable: “Desmond Ridder’s play forced their hand. They had every intention of keeping him and I think most commended the move — I commended the move back in the spring. But then you look at the fact that he just didn’t perform. This is a production league. They had no choice. The writing was on the wall, especially as Tune started each of the last two preseason games.

“The only hesitation, I think right now, is can Monti Ossenfort put his pride aside and say, ‘I gotta go out again before the start of the regular season and get another quarterback?’ They doubled down on Colt McCoy last offseason and that was a mistake. They had to remedy it with Joshua Dobbs. Are you going to sacrifice more roster capital or draft capital to get somebody else?

“This is an unfortunate trend for Ossenfort, and who knows, he might just say, ‘We’re going to just see what Clayton Tune can do and that’s good enough, and we don’t have time to onboard another quarterback.’ But that’s not in the best interest of the team. That would be putting ego before the team. I don’t think Clayton Tune can win an NFL game unless you get a great defensive performance and a dominant running game.”

Offensive line

Keepers: Paris Johnson Jr., Evan Brown, Hjalte Froholdt, Will Hernandez, Jonah Williams, Kelvin Beachum, Isaiah Adams, Trystan Colon, Jon Gaines.

Bo Brack: “Trystan Colon probably benefited from Christian Jones going on IR to start the season with that ankle injury. But everybody else, it makes sense with where they were drafted, or their versatility beyond the starting five.”

Johnny Venerable: “I was happy to see Jon Gaines make the team because I know he played pretty solid in the preseason, but after missing his entire rookie season and watching them draft a couple linemen, you wondered, ‘Could this guy be on the outs?'”

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Running backs

Keepers: James Conner, Trey Benson, Emari Demercado, DeeJay Dallas.
Notable cut: Michael Carter

Bo Brack: “It’s a little bit surprising just because of what Michael Carter was able to do in the game time that he saw last season. He provided them with a spark in the run game and just overall offensively. But clearly they value Emari Dermacado’s versatility and him kind of being the get-his-hands-dirty type running back in this room. James Conner is the do-everything, bell cow back. Trey Benson is the successor — maybe the true backup — and then DJ Dallas, I don’t think is viewed as a running back at all, but more of a specialist.

“Demercado’s pass protection skills have to be the biggest thing on third down that they value over a change-of-pace guy like Carter who can catch the ball. The offensive line’s strength is in run blocking. Maybe they’re trying to help in pass pro with a running back there to help keep Kyler upright.”

Johnny Venerable: “You’ve got to assume that Ossenfort and Gannon valued a guy in Demercado that they found as an undrafted player and has been in their program longer and is a superior special teams player, so they think. You’ve really just got to cross your fingers that Trey Benson is poised to have a big role this year. If James Conner misses a game, what are you going to do behind him?

“I thought it was a bad move. When you’re talking about putting together your best 53-man roster, I don’t know how that includes Demercado and DeeJay Dallas over Michael Carter. I think we’re seeing this anti-Steve Keim roster building, which I support, but even if Michael Carter’s better, this guy that we found as an undrafted player, we’re going to give him the benefit of the doubt. It could mean good things for them in the long term, but Michael Carter was averaging six yards per carry and will be claimed by somebody else.

“The biggest win of the year last year was the Philadelphia win. Who had a huge game for his head coach? Michael Carter Jr.. I don’t think this is a good look. Against Philadelphia, Michael Carter goes out there with Kyler Murray on what is probably the drive of the year and catches multiple passes, makes people miss in the open field, and eventually catches a touchdown pass that gets the game back in striking distance. I don’t love these optics. Demercado was active that game and they didn’t give him the ball once.”

Tight ends

Keepers: Trey McBride, Elijah Higgins, Tip Reiman, Travis Vokolek.

Bo Brack: “You knew the top three, but Vokolek cracking the initial 53 is a little surprising and we’ll see if that holds up. They picked him up at the end of last year and he has great size. He’s a pretty good blocker so you’ve got your two pass catchers and you’ve got your two blocking tight ends. That’s probably how he cracked it.”

Johnny Venerable: “Elijah Higgins is clearly the number two tight end and Tip Reiman is a certified six offensive lineman right now. They value tight ends so they kept a bunch of them. I have no issue with that.”

Receivers

Keepers: Marvin Harrison Jr.; Michael Wilson, Greg Dortch, Chris Moore, Zach Pascal, Xavier Weaver.

Bo Brack: “Chris Moore had a good camp, a good joint practice, and made a play in the preseason. He is kind of a take-the-top-off role type, and I think he could fill in for both MHJ and Michael Wilson if necessary.

“Zach Pascal is like Demercado for the wide receiver room where he’s getting his hands dirty. He’s your best run blocking wide receiver. And then Xavier Weaver’s got this five-game audition. Can he stick on the roster beyond Zay Jones coming back?”

Johnny Venerable: “If Xavier Weaver contributes the first five weeks of the season, they’re not just going to cut him loose and give him to another NFL franchise. I think there’s a better chance that either they have to house more receivers temporarily, or maybe they just say, ‘You know what? Zay Jones, there’s not a fit for you anymore.’

“Zay Jones (suspended for the first five games for violating the NFL’s code of conduct) is on a one-year deal. And right now that one year equals about 12 games. Xavier Weaver is on a rookie deal for [three] years, making no money. That’s something that they’ve got to consider.”

Defensive linemen

Keepers: Bilal Nichols, Roy Lopez, Justin Jones, LJ Collier, Dante Stills, Khyiris Tonga.

Bo Brack: “With Darius Robinson on IR, I think you see the elevated floor and talent with Justin Jones, Bilal Nichols and Roy Lopez. LJ Collier is somebody who has emerged and Dante Stills is a guy with a lot of high expectations going into year two.

“Khyiris Tonga benefits from Robinson going on IR to start things so they just have an extra body on the active roster where they like to have a five-man rotation on game day. So Tonga slides in and it’s a group that, even with D-Rob out, is much improved.”

Johnny Venerable: “Darius Robinson freed up an extra spot, but it’s just temporary. This is a four- or five-man rotation right now, with the three starters. They’ve got a nose tackle and a backup nose tackle. And then they’ve got backups for Nichols and Jones in Dante Stills and LJ Collier.

“One of those guys is probably deemed expendable when Darius comes back. We’ll see, but Bilal Nichols can also play nose. Tonga may just hang out temporarily, but for me right now, that group is in flux just like the edge rusher group.”

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Inside linebackers

Keepers: Kyzir White, Mack Wilson Sr., Owen Pappoe.
Notable cut: Krys Barnes.

Bo Brack: “Barnes not making it was a surprise. Maybe they are awaiting a move and they just thought it was inevitable so they’re going to get him out there where he can find work. Sometimes they run defensive looks where they have one linebacker on the field  and that’s White. And then Mack Wilson is versatile, and then they really liked what they got from Owen Pappoe. So on game days, did it make sense to have four active linebackers? I think they like Krys Barnes. He was just a part of the numbers game.”

Johnny Venerable: “I was surprised by the Krys Barnes move, especially with what we hear about Mack Wilson maybe rushing the passer. That doesn’t make a lot of sense, but I think it’s also a credit to Owen Pappoe, who had a good preseason.”

Outside linebackers

Keepers: Zaven Collins, Dennis Gardeck, Xavier Thomas, Jesse Luketa, Victor Dimukeje.

Bo Brack: “This is going to be a group that’s going to get a ton of playing time from top to bottom. I don’t think that there’s anybody that is really a depth piece. This is just an audition for this entire room. You’re going to see heavy snaps from a guy, who just got extended in Zaven Collins, and a guy who’s playing on a contract year in Dennis Gardeck, and then two lunchpail guys that they really like in Dimukeje and Luketa. And Thomas, who emerged as a fifth-round rookie and who can really kind of make a name for himself right off the bat.

“With Dimukeje and Luketa, you would think you would have room for only one of those guys. It just seems like you could make a decision on which one you like better, but just out of necessity, and with the injury to BJ Ojulari, they both are in a roster spot.”

Johnny Venerable: “It’s the worst edge rushing group in the NFL, and it’s among the worst position groups in the NFL. They’ve traded in their D tackle group for this group now holding that banner. I like these guys as human beings, but Xavier Thomas is the only one where you’re like, ‘Oh, that’s interesting.’ Zaven Collins, we’ll see in year two, but Gardeck, Dimukeje and Luketa have been around for so long and the Cardinals haven’t had a good pass rush with them.

“If this is the group, it’s going to cost them games. There’s no doubt in my mind. We’re going to have Sundays where the offense is humming and the secondary is playing well, but the opposing quarterback — and they play a lot of Pro Bowlers — goes down the field and picks them apart because nobody can get home.”

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Safeties

Keepers: Budda Baker, Jalen Thompson, Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, Joey Blount, Darren Hall.

Bo Brack: “Joey Blount, wow. That was a surprise, but I think that’s all about special teams prowess. Does that decision play into the new kickoff and just wanting to have experienced guys out there?

“Darren Hall had one of the best preseasons of any Cardinals defender, leading them in tackles and he was everywhere. He was breaking up passes and was physical. I think he really kind of matches the identity of this defense, and I don’t think that they wanted to part ways with him for their initial 53 so he cracks it. Five is crazy. Is Jonathan Gannon’s bias showing with the position he played?”

Johnny Venerable: “They’ve got two high-priced safeties on the roster right now. I think that gets whittled down to one next year, and now you’ve got two candidates that you can work with throughout this year to then get bumped up to two and three next year.

“I like the secondary. It doesn’t have a bunch of household names, but they flushed it with mid-round draft picks and savvy free-agent signings.”

Cornerbacks

Keepers: Sean Murphy-Bunting, Garrett Williams, Starling Thomas V, Max Melton, Kei’Trel Clark, Elijah Jones.

Bo Brack: “The top three is a little bit different variation than I expected. I think it’s Sean Murphy-Bunting, Garrett Williams and Starling Thomas. You wonder if Max Melton, who saw time in the preseason in week three, did he get kind of slowed down by the injury where he missed time in training camp?

“Elijah Jones, I wouldn’t expect to see much playing time. Kei’Trel Clark is your guy that’s going to just kind of be there for depth. He’s one of those guys that I think, if they pick up somebody off waivers, is on the chopping block. But they like his mindset. They like his approach. The only thing that limits him is the limitations that come with being a sixth-round pick.”

Johnny Venerable: “They think that with all these DBs, multiple looks, play six, seven DBs maybe at one time, and play with the lead at times, that you can be opportunistic. I see what they’re doing and I don’t have a major issue with it, but when the Niners and the Rams want to run 11 and 12 personnel right at the Cardinals, who’s gonna stop them?

“Is Kei’Trel Clark going to stop them? Is Taylor-Demerson going to stop them? I hate this term, but it’s a finesse-based defense based on personnel right now and that’s not indicative of their coach. It’s a bend-don’t-break defense. It’s not an attacking defense.”

Specialists

Keepers: K Matt Prater, P Blake Gillikin, LS Aaron Brewer.

Bo Brack (on Aaron Brewer not being homeless for a week this season): “Look, they need a long snapper and maybe it’s showing a little respect to the guy. He’s not having to play this magic trick before the start of the regular season. He can just relax.”

Johnny Venerable: “I want to see Xavier Weaver have an opportunity to return kicks, but I don’t think that happens just because of the money that they’ve invested in DeeJay Dallas, who I didn’t think looked explosive at all in the preseason. At some point in the future, I think Xavier Weaver has kick returner, punt returner written all over him.”

What moves might we see in the coming days?

Bo Brack: “I think they add to the quarterback room. I think they add to the outside linebacker room. Looking at the numbers and how thin it is at those spots where it’s a consensus around the league that they are positions of importance, it’s pretty essential that they get somebody in there.”

Johnny Venerable: “With backup quarterback right now, I think there’s a sense of urgency. They felt like they had a good handle on this group and then the games started and those guys looked bad. I don’t think they have to trade for anybody at quarterback because they have the fourth waiver claim. I think they use that on a quarterback because the three teams ahead of them, I don’t think need a QB.

“And then this Haason Reddick thing, with each passing day we’re almost up to 40 days now. If we get into game week next week and he’s not around Jets camp, if I’m Ossenfort, I’m all over that. I know people have shot that down. I’ve got it sourced that they’re at least intrigued by the possibility; they’re keeping tabs on it.

“If Reddick shows up to Jets camp it’s a moot point, but if they start the season and he’s not there, the Jets are going to be looking to get what they can. He’s an impending free agent. They play week one again San Francisco. If he’s not there for that game, he’s dead to them.”

Top photo of  Xavier Weaver via Getty Images

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