Cardinals 53-man roster projection ahead of joint practice with Packers

The Arizona Cardinals are entering the final stretch of their preseason slate this week with a joint practice and game scheduled with the Green Bay Packers.

Much of the roster has been set for a while now, but this week provides one last chance for players to prove their worth ahead of roster cuts on Aug. 30.

A projection of what the Cardinals’ 53-man roster could look like and who might be on the outside looking in once the dust settles at 3 p.m. on Sunday.

Cardinals’ 53-man roster projection

Quarterbacks (3)

– Jacoby Brissett
– Gardner Minshew II
– Carson Beck

If the Cardinals needed to free up another roster spot, they could realistically move Minshew and roll with Brissett and Beck. Kedon Slovis is a practice squad option.

Running backs (4)

– Jeremiyah Love
– Tyler Allgeier
– James Conner
– Bam Knight

Trey Benson could end up a free agent, a trade piece or on injured reserve. However it happens, he won’t be on the roster.

Wide receivers (6)

– Marvin Harrison Jr.
– Michael Wilson
– Kendrick Bourne
– Devin Duvernay
– Reggie Virgil
– Jalen Brooks

Preseason darling Simi Fehoko is a prime candidate for the practice squad, similar to what happened after last year’s 53-man roster cuts.

Tight ends (3)

– Trey McBride
– Teagan Quitoriano
– Elijah Higgins

With the news of Tip Reiman not being ready by Week 1, there’s a good chance he could start on the physically unable to perform/active list.

If that’s the case, Arizona could keep three on the 53-man roster and elevate another blocking tight end off the practice squad.

Offensive line (9)

– Paris Johnson Jr.
– Isaac Seumalo
– Hjalte Froholdt
– Isaiah Adams
– Elijah Wilkinson
– Josh Fryar
– Jon Gaines II
– Hayden Conner
– Jayden Williams

Matt Pryor just misses the cut, while Gaines serves as Arizona’s interior swing option following Chase Bisontis’ season-ending knee injury.

Defensive line (6)

– Darius Robinson
– Walter Nolen III
– Roy Lopez
– Andrew Billings
– Dante Stills
– L.J. Collier

How the Cardinals deploy Lopez and Billings is going to be interesting to watch.

Outside linebackers (5)

– Josh Sweat
– Zaven Collins
– Baron Browning
– Jordan Burch
– Eku Leota

BJ Ojulari doesn’t make the cut, with Leota instead earning that final spot in the OLBs room.

Ojulari might be a Monti Ossenfort draft pick, but it’s been Leota who separated himself through training camp and the preseason.

And yes, I know Sweat is still on the PUP list, but that should change with the regular season closing in. At least you would think it would.

Inside linebackers (4)

– Mack Wilson Sr.
– Cody Simon
– Jack Gibbens
– Karson Sharar

Sharar gets the nod over Owen Pappoe due to his impressive special teams play.

He might carve out a noticeable role on that side of the football in a hurry.

Cornerbacks (6)

– Will Johnson
– Garrett Williams
– Denzel Burke
– Max Melton
– Sean Murphy-Bunting
– Elijah Jones

Jones beats out Starling Thomas V, who gave up a deep touchdown in Saturday’s loss to Dallas. Thomas could be a practice squad candidate.

Safety (4)

– Budda Baker
– Andrew Wingard
– Dadrion “Rabbit” Taylor-Demerson
– Kitan “Bug” Crawford

Baker, Dewey and a couple of animals.

Kicker (1)

– Chad Ryland

Punter (1)

– Blake Gillikin

Long snapper (1)

– Casey Kreiter

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