Arizona Cardinals 53-man roster projections after 1 week of training camp
The Arizona Cardinals began training camp this week and the battle for the 53-man roster has commenced. There have been highlights and injuries. Cornerback Star Thomas is out for the season with an ACL tear. Rookie defensive lineman Walter Nolen has a calf injury that could keep him out of all of camp. Veteran defensive lineman Bilal Nichols still hasn't recovered from the neck injury he suffered in Week 6.
With a couple of practices in the books, this is our first attempt to predict the 53-man roster, based on what we know.
Arizona Cardinals 53-man roster projection after first week of training camp
This is easy. Murray and Brissett are locks. Clayton Tune's best chance is for the practice squad. The Cardinals have not had more than two quarterbacks on the active roster since Jonathan Gannon became head coach.
This room feels set as well. While many would like to see Michael Carter push for a spot, he isn't going to beat out Benson for the primary back to Conner, he isn't going to beat out Demercado for the third-down role with special teams and isn't going to beat out Dallas for the kick return/special teams ace role.
Fehoko is an intriguing option with length and speed, but he doesn't offer much on special teams. $1 million of his salary is guaranteed. One of these guys will be inactive on game days.
Josiah Deguara is an intriguing option because of his special teams play, but he would have to be the No. 3 tight end on the roster to be worth keeping because the Cardinals never have four tight ends active in a game, and what is the point of a special teams ace that isn't active?
The numbers will be tough here. The top six are locks. Beachum is the backup swing tackle. Gaines will be the backup center and then Leverett can play all over the line. Conner is developmental. Could they keep 10? That could include second-year tackle Christian Jones, rookie tackle Josh Fryar or veteran Royce Newman.
Nolen doesn't make the roster because I predict he will start the season on PUP and will be out at least four weeks. If he is going to miss all of camp, he probably will not have enough reps to be ready for the season. His roster spot will be a future problem, when it would make more sense to cut Collier, who has $750,000 in guaranteed salary. That will have been paid out in the first seven weeks.
Also, I am also predicting that Nichols' neck injury will keep him from playing. That makes six players for six spots easy.
Xavier Thomas gets bumped from the roster. Ojulari is on PUP still recovering from his torn ACL, so that will be something to watch.
Four of these five slots feel like easy choices. Do they keep four or five? Walker gives them special teams play.
Thomas' injury makes the starting lineup easy, but the two backup spots will be between Clark, Burke (a rookie) and 2024 third-round pick Elijah Jones. Jones gets bumped.
Blount beats out rookie Kitan Crawford.
These are set.
Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
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