Roster gymnastics: How the Cardinals can get creative with 53-man roster cuts

TEMPE — Constructing an initial 53-man roster can be tricky.

And although the Arizona Cardinals have already begun paring things down with running back Trey Benson getting waived/injured on Monday, there’s still plenty to do to get to that magic number by Aug. 30.

It’s not all black and white when it comes to roster construction, though.

There are creative ways to manipulate the tally, and Arizona could use multiple in 2026.

Creative ways Cardinals can manipulate the 53-man roster

On the road again

Jacoby Brissett is the expected Week 1 starter. Carson Beck could very well be the long-term answer at the position and will need to prove as much in 2026.

But what about Gardner Minshew II?

The veteran journeyman quickly engrained himself within the Cardinals locker room this offseason and has been a welcome addition in the QBs room.

Had the Cardinals failed to come to an agreement on a reworked deal with Brissett, Minshew was the prime candidate to lead Arizona into the regular season before eventually turning things over to Beck.

That’s not the situation anymore, however, with Brissett and the Cardinals moving forward with the quarterback as the lead man.

Having a veteran signal caller — no matter who — is an important key to Arizona’s roster. Having two almost redundant options, is overkill.

And if Brissett is eventually not the guy this year — as many expect — it’s more likely Beck is the next man up than Minshew given where Arizona stands in the franchise quarterback department. More tape on the rookie is needed before looking at the 2027 NFL Draft or free agency.

So why not just cut out the middle man altogether?

There are teams always on the prowl for a good backup option with starter potential. Minshew is just that.

With Minshew off the roster, Brissett and Beck would serve as Arizona’s two QBs, with Kedon Slovis a practice squad option for added depth.

That all depends on how the rookie is feeling, though.

Beck remains on the shelf

Beck impressed in his Hall of Fame game showing before throwing a no-look touchdown pass during the Red & White Practice that had everyone talking.

Just when he was picking up momentum, though, discomfort in his ribs (picked up in his preseason debut) put a halt to that.

The rookie has been held out of practice and has missed the last two preseason games as he continues to work through the issue.

His status for Friday’s preseason finale is very much up in the air, with head coach Mike LaFleur calling it “TBD.”

 

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But with another day of nonparticipation at practice ahead of Arizona’s joint practice work in Green Bay, it would be a surprise to see No. 19 take the field.

Is there a world where that discomfort lingers into the season and Beck lands on the injured reserve with a designation to return?

It wouldn’t be the most ideal situation from a growth standpoint — Beck wouldn’t be able to practice — but would open up another roster spot.

Beck was never going to be the Week 1 starter once Brissett inked his reworked contract this offseason. Even if the veteran didn’t get a new deal, Minshew was waiting in the wings.

Under that lens, the rookie was already not expected to play early on in 2026.

It wouldn’t be the most ideal, but still something to think about.

Numbers game in the TEs room

The term 13 personnel has been used heavily since LaFleur came to town.

That’s not surprising given how much the offense he previously coordinated ran the personnel grouping.

So how on earth could Arizona only carry three tight ends on the initial 53-man roster?!

Heading into training camp, that seemed like a nonstarter.

Then came the Tip Reiman update.

With Reiman already ruled out for Week 1, as he continues to work back from last year’s ankle injury, it wouldn’t be a shock to see him transferred to the reserve/physically unable to perform list to start the year.

He would have to miss at least the first four weeks of the season and would give Arizona more roster flexibility in the meantime.

The Cardinals also may have found a Reiman 2.0 in Teagan Quitoriano.

The big blocking tight end has been a mainstay with the first-team offense throughout training camp and is expected to play the Reiman role to start the regular season.

“He can really do it all,” tight end Trey McBride said Monday. “He wants to learn, he wants to help out, he wants to be in the mix and he’s done a great job of stepping into that role … and knowing exactly what to do.”

As for providing depth behind the trio of McBride, Elijah Higgins and Quitoriano, that’s where the practice squad comes in.

Elevating additional tight ends could be the way to go as Reiman gets back to full strength and would circumvent counting against the 53-man roster.

Wouldn’t be the first time

Last year, the Cardinals made an interesting move in their 53-man roster construction.

They opted to release longtime long snapper Aaron Brewer and head into Week 1 prep without one on the active roster.

Brewer was eventually re-signed days later and played in all 17 games last year.

Could we see something similar this time around?

It’s a possibility, though Arizona did turn to a new long snapper this offseason in Casey Kreiter.

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