The Arizona Cardinals and the rest of the NFL must trim their rosters down to 53 players by Tuesday afternoon at 1 p.m. Arizona time. They have many tough decisions to make.
Some decisions are made difficult because players who won’t necessarily have much of a role on offense or on defense are standout special teams players.
Five players in particular will make decisions tough.
RB Emari Demercado
Demercado feels like a lock for the roster and has a role on offense as a third-down back. Head coach Jonathan Gannon has said Demercado have an important role on special teams as well.
S Joey Blount
Blount was great on special teams last year and has made plays in the preseason. But he would be the fourth safety on the roster. Will the Cardinals keep him or Andre Chachere, who also has played plenty on special teams before.
CB Bobby Price
Price also played very well on special teams last year for the team and continues to make plays.
However, the cornerback room is tough. Six players look like they are headed to the 53-man roster and that doesn’t include Price.
LB Markus Bailey
Bailey has made a career on special teams. With four inside linebackers locks to make the team, can they keep a fifth?
WR Zach Pascal
Pascal was a core special teamer for the Cardinals last year and has a connection with Gannon. But can they keep him when they added Chris Moore and three rookies? Even with Zay Jones’ suspension, is there room for him?
Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
