These Cardinals players are battling for a possible spot on the final 53-man roster but will need a strong showing against the Saints.
The Arizona Cardinals have their preseason finale this weekend, taking on the New Orleans Saints on the road Saturday, provided Mother Nature doesn’t get in the way.
While the Cardinals will not play quarterback Kyler Murray or others of their starters in the finale, it will be a critical game for some players on the roster bubble.
These players are not guaranteed a spot on the final roster and will need to back up their play in practice with a positive performance under the bright lights of actual game scenarios.
Who are the bubble players who need to perform well?
These players were hurt by no preseason last year and now have an uphill battle to make the team.
The Arizona Cardinals will get some offseason work in OTAs and mandatory minicamp, unlike in 2020, and should have a preseason this year. Some young players were hurt by the lack of them a year ago.
Now, with new additions to the roster, some players find themselves on the roster bubble as OTAs begin.
What they do with their practice reps and in the preseason will be critical.
Who are those who really need a good offseason and preseason?
They bring back two former draft picks, three from this year’s rookie class and more.
The Arizona Cardinals, with their season coming to a close, have begun to build their offseason roster. They announced Tuesday the signing of 15 players to contracts for the 2021 season, known as futures deals.
All but one player spent at least the season on the practice squad for the Cardinals.
The following players are now under contract for next season:
TE Ian Bunting
DL Michael Dogbe
WR Krishawn Hogan
K Brett Maher
OL Koda Martin
S Chris Miller
RB Khalfani Muhammad
CB Picasso Nelson
WR A.J. Richardson
LB Terrance Smith
LB Reggie Walker
WR JoJo Ward
LB Evan Weaver
WR Isaac Whitney
CB Jace Whittaker
Two — Dogbe and Weaver — are former Cardinals draft picks. Dogbe was selected in the seventh round in 2019 and Weaver was a sixth-round pick in 2020.
Richardson has been with the team since 2019. Walker, Ward and Whittaker were part of the team’s undrafted rookie class in 2020.
Martin was signed in training camp. Hogan returns after joining the Cardinals in 2017 as an undrafted rookie.
Bunting recently worked out with the team. The rest joined the team at some point during the season.
All four players they protected for the regular season finale have all been elevated to the active roster and played this season.
The Arizona Cardinals have protected some familiar names on the practice squad for Week 17 as they prepare for their critical game on the road against the Los Angeles Rams. According to the league transaction report, they have protected a pair of defensive linemen, a linebacker and a cornerback.
They are:
DL Michael Dogbe
DL Stacy McGee
LB Terrance Smith
CB Jace Whittaker
All four players have been elevated to the active roster for games and have played. Smith has been elevated the last two games to play special teams. Dogbe has played in three games, McGee in one and Whittaker has played in four games.
The two defensive linemen being protected suggests perhaps an injury or two among the current group of defensive linemen. The first injury report of the week will come out Wednesday afternoon.
They protect Nugent, TE Seth DeValve, DL Michael Dogbe and LB Terrance Smith. All four have played in games this season.
The Arizona Cardinals do not currently have a kicker on their roster, as Zane Gonzalez was placed on injured reserve last week. Mike Nugent, who handled kicking duties the last two weeks, has reverted to the practice squad.
To make sure Nugent is available to kick on Saturday against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 16, the team protected him and three others from being signed by other teams this week.
According to the league transaction report, the Cardinals protected the following players:
K Mike Nugent
TE Seth DeValve
DL Michael Dogbe
LB Terrance Smith
Nugent will kick for the Cardinals this weekend. He will be brought up before the game. DeValve has been elevated to the active roster for games twice this season. With Maxx Williams and Darrell Daniels both injured and day-to-day, the Cardinals might need him again this weekend.
Dogbe has been protected multiple weeks this season and has been elevated three times this season to the roster.
Smith was elevated to the active roster for Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles. He played on special teams. Since linebacker Kylie Fitts is recovering from a hamstring injury that kept him out of Sunday’s game, protecting Smith ensures that role is filled.
Zane Gonzalez’ back injury means Nugent could get elevated for the second week in a row and kick for Arizona against the Philadelphia Eagles.
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The Arizona Cardinals, according to Tuesday’s NFL transaction report, have protected four players on the practice squad from being signed by another team during Week 15. Who are those players?
They are:
K Mike Nugent
TE Seth DeValve
DL Michael Dogbe
CB Jace Whittaker
Nugent and DeValve were the team’s two practice squad elevations for Sunday’s game. Kicker Zane Gonzalez suffered a back injury late last week and was unable to play. His status is currently uncertain for this week, so the Cardinals want to ensure they have a kicker on the roster for their contest in Week 15 against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Nugent made all four of his field-goal attempts against the New York Giants and both of his extra points.
DeValve has been protected two weeks in a row and elevated to be the team’s third tight end for game days.
Dogbe and Whittaker both have played this season as well. With Jordan Phillps reinjuring his hamstring, the Cardinals might need Dogbe this weekend. Phillips has already been ruled out for this week.
They activated one from IR, placed two on IR and brought up five players from the practice squad to play in Week 12.
The Arizona Cardinals made a number of roster moves on Saturday to get ready for their Week 12 game against the New England Patriots. They reactivated one player off injured reserve, placed two players on it and moved five from the practice squad to the active roster using three different methods.
Evan Weaver, Evan Baylis, Michael Dogbe and Jace Whittaker are protected this week.
The Arizona Cardinals protected four practice squad players this week, making it so they cannot be signed by another team until next week. There is a new name in the four players.
According to Tuesday’s NFL transaction report, the Cardinals protected the following four players:
TE Evan Baylis
DL Michael Dogbe
LB Evan Weaver
CB Jace Whittaker
Baylis has been signed to the active roster and has played games. Dogbe was elevated this last week and plays. Whittaker has gotten playing time.
The new name is Weaver, the Cardinals’ sixth-round pick this year but did not make the team. The Cardinals do not appear to have any depth issues at linebacker but the first injury report of the week has not been released yet. It will come out Wednesday afternoon.
Baylis’ protection makes sense because of the status of tight end Darrell Daniels, who missed last week’s game with an ankle injury. Likewise, the Cardinals currently only have four defensive linemen on the 53-man roster. Whittaker gives extra depth in the secondary and special teams flexibility.
The Cardinals currently have two vacancies on the 53-man roster after safety Deionte Thompson was placed on the COVID list. More roster moves are certainly to come before Sunday.
They protect Trevon Coley, Michael Dogbe, D.J. Foster and Jace Whittaker.
The Arizona Cardinals have made their practice squad protection for the week. They again have protected four players for Week 10 as they prepare for the Buffalo Bills.
According to the NFL transaction report, the following players cannot sign with another team.
DL Trevon Coley
DL Michael Dogbe
RB D.J. Foster
CB Jace Whittaker
All those positions have questions with injuries. Starting running back Kenyan Drake missed the last game with an ankle injury. Defensive tackle Jordan Phillips has a hamstring injury. He only played 12 snaps on Sunday. Cornerback Byron Murphy began the week on the COVID list and Drew Kirkpatrick missed the last game. Whittaker played the second-most snaps at cornerback for the team on Sunday.
Foster has been elevated to the roster multiple games this season. He played his first offensive snaps since 2017 on Sunday. He is a core special teams player.
Maxx Williams makes his return after missing since Week 1 with an ankle injury.
The Arizona Cardinals made a few roster moves on Saturday to prepare for their Week 9 battle against the Miami Dolphins. They activated one player from injured reserve, brought three players up from the practice squad and released a player.
