The Arizona Cardinals’ coaching staff, led by head coach Mike LaFleur in his maiden season and general manager Monti Ossenfort, has officially decided on their initial 53-man roster. This move, made right before the waiver wire madness and practice squad selections, gives us our first real look at the team LaFleur and Ossenfort are building down in Tempe. They’ve got some interesting choices, especially with a few key guys already sidelined.
Early Season Bumps: The Injured & Waived Crew
It’s tough when you’re setting your roster and immediately have guys hitting the reserve lists. The Cardinals have two significant players placed on reserve/injured who are thankfully designated to return later: running back James Conner, dealing with an ankle issue, and defensive end Zach Carter, recovering from a knee injury. Missing your starting running back and a key pass rusher is never ideal, but the “designated to return” tag offers a glimmer of hope. On top of that, tight end Tip Reiman is starting the year on the PUP list, also with an ankle issue. And a tough break for safety Josh Minkins, who was waived after an injury settlement. These early hits mean depth is going to be tested right out of the gate for LaFleur’s squad.
Who Made the Cut for LaFleur’s First 53?
Looking at who made the initial 53, there are definitely some names that stand out. At quarterback, they’re rolling with Jacoby Brissett, Gardner Minshew, and Carson Beck. That’s a solid veteran presence with Brissett and Minshew. The receiver room is stacked with seven guys, including Michael Wilson, the dynamic Marv Harrison, Jr., veteran Kendrick Bourne, and speedster Devin Duvernay. On the offensive line, nine players like Paris Johnson, Jr. and Isaac Seumalo are locked in to protect those QBs. The defensive line features seven talents, including Walter Nolen, Darius Robinson, and, notably, Zach Carter, who made the initial list despite his injury designation. The linebacker group is seven deep with Zaven Collins and Josh Sweat leading the charge. In the secondary, they’ve got five corners like Will Johnson and Max Melton, plus six safeties, headlined by Budda Baker and Andrew Wingard, though remember Minkins was waived. The special teams unit is set with Chad Ryland, Casey Kreiter, and Blake Gillikin.
This initial roster really highlights the direction LaFleur wants to take the Cardinals in his first season. We’ll be watching closely to see what waiver wire moves come next and who fills out their practice squad, as those decisions will further shape the team. But while we’re keeping an eye on the rest of the league, can we talk about our Seahawks? What a wild ride in Kansas City with that 9-9 tie against the Chiefs! Ugh, a tie is never what you want, but at least it’s early in the season and our guys showed grit.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Revenge of the Birds.
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