That final preseason game against the Green Bay Packers? Coach Mike LaFleur thought he had a pretty good idea of what the Arizona Cardinals’ 53-man roster would look like. Then Evan Hull went off, rushing for a massive 107 yards, scoring two touchdowns, and even punching in a two-point conversion Friday night. Talk about making a statement right before crunch time.
Evan Hull Just Made the RB Room a Minefield
Hull, who the Cardinals just snagged off waivers from the Texans on August 3, didn’t waste any time proving his worth. LaFleur himself couldn’t stop praising his backs, giving a huge shoutout to running backs coach Matt Merritt. The coach said, “He is a tough dude,” when talking about Hull. And it is true, all the guys who carried the ball did some really good stuff, making those roster conversations incredibly tough. It’s exactly what LaFleur said would happen: someone standing out in the final game to alter all their thinking. And man, did Hull stand out.
Conner’s Status Is Still a Head-Scratcher
Now, with Hull blowing up, what happens to James Conner? This situation is wild. Conner hasn’t seen any 11-on-11 work all summer long. Some folks are talking about putting him on injured reserve, but that means he can’t practice for at least the first four games. A smarter move might be to sign him to the practice squad since, as a vested veteran, he doesn’t hit waivers. That would save a roster spot, and he’s already guaranteed $2.1 million of his $2.355 million base salary anyway. Plus, he could be elevated for game days three times when he’s finally ready. Between Jeremiyah Love, Tyler Allgeier, Bam Knight, and now Hull, that running back room is stacked, especially after trading Corey Kiner to the Patriots.
Other Tough Calls Loom for Arizona
It’s not just the running backs giving the Cardinals headaches. At quarterback, Jacoby Brissett and Garder Minshew II are locked in, but rookie Carson Beck has been sidelined for 23 days with a rib injury since the Hall of Fame game. Putting Beck on injured reserve to start the season would save a roster spot, let him throw on the side while not practicing, and keep him eligible for a designated return later. Over at wide receiver, Jalen Brooks, Simi Fehoko, and Reggie Virgil are fighting for maybe one or two spots. Virgil is a tricky one, if they waive him, he’s probably getting claimed by another team, adding another layer to these tough roster decisions.
Coach LaFleur mentioned having these “hard conversations” on the plane ride back and then first thing Saturday morning. The deadline is 3 pm Arizona time Sunday to trim the roster to 53 guys, with waiver claims by 10 am that morning. After that, it’s all about building out the practice squad. These rosters are always moving pieces, but for the Cardinals, the next few hours are absolutely critical. Can they make the right moves after Hull just exploded onto the scene? Everyone’s watching.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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