The Arizona Cardinals have some final roster decisions to make in the next few days, as they must cut down the roster down to 53 players. Many players are locks to make the team and it is highly likely very few will appear in the game on Thursday.
Some are battling for a job, a spot on the 53-man roster. A few are on the roster bubble, where playing well on Thursday could make or break their chances. Also, these are players competing not only against teammates but also against players at different positions around the league, as the Cardinals have top waiver claim priority.
Here are the main roster bubble players for Arizona coming into the critical weekend.
CB Brandon Williams
Williams is likely more of a longshot than a bubble player but he has experience and has a history of contributing on special teams under Jeff Rodgers, Arizona’s special teams coach.
CB Nate Brooks
Brooks probably is ahead of all the corners who will not get significant playing time. However, his position is one where the Cardinals will look for some experience and we don’t know how many cornerbacks they will keep on the roster initially, as Robert Alford has to occupy a spot, at least initially.
S Jonathan Owens
With Josh Shaw placed on injured reserve, it opens up a spot at safety potentially. The Cardinals might try and acquire someone but the door is open for Owens, who has done some nice things on special teams and also has been playing in the slot.
WR Damiere Byrd
Do the Cardinals keep six or do they keep seven receivers? The thing about Byrd that is hard to gauge is the fact he has gotten so much playing time with the first-team offense. That said, Larry Fitzgerald, Christian Kirk, Michael Crabtree, KeeSean Johnson, Trent Sherfield and Andy Isabella are all locks for the roster. Byrd is that seventh guy. But will they go with seven and if they do, will they have picked someone else up?
OT Joshua Miles
Miles has impressed the coaches but it doesn’t look like he is ready to be the main backup tackle. They very well could go with someone else from another roster they acquire. It looks likely he will make the roster, at least initially, but he might not stick.
DL Bruce Hector
The Cardinals did just trade for him but if they keep only six defensive linemen, he is in a battle with undrafted rookie Miles Brown, Sterling Bailey others for one spot. The three starting jobs and Clinton McDonald are locks and it appears seventh-round pick Michael Dogbe is headed for the final roster as well.
TE Ricky Seals-Jones
This comes down to how many tight ends the Cardinals keep. Will it be three or four? If it is three, then he and Darrell Daniels are fighting for one spot. Seals-Jones has more upside as a mismatch in the passing game but still needs work as a blocker and has not been used as much on special teams in the preseason.
TE Darrell Daniels
Daniels has quietly been a key special teams player thus far in the preseason. He has played with the first team on offense and he has been described by Kliff Kingsbury as having freakish speed. If it comes down to one spot, do the Cardinals take the bigger special teams contributor and better blocker or do they go with Seals-Jones as the passing game mismatch?
DL Miles Brown
Like Bruce Hector, Brown is probably battling for the last spot on the defensive line. He would give the Cardinals a true nose tackle off the bench and has been pretty okay throughout training camp. He will be a practice squad candidate as well if he gets cut and clears waivers.
LB Zeke Turner
Turner was one of the very best special teams players in the league last year. However, if the Cardinals keep five inside linebackers, he is the fifth guy and if they sign anyone or claim anyone at the position, he could be the guy to go. He doesn’t have the prototypical size to play in Vance Joseph’s defense but, being a former defensive back, he does have cover skills.
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