The NFL preseason brings mixed feelings. It is the return of NFL football games but not really. The amount of known and established players playing in games varies widely across the league.
Things have changed for the Arizona Cardinals, who play their preseason opener Friday in Cincinnati.
Because they are in their fourth season with the same system and the players largely are in their second year or beyond in the system, they can use a maintenance approach to the preseason instead of a strategy based on game reps for established players.
The Cardinals’ starting lineup is mostly filled with established veterans or players with multiple years in the system. Kyler Murray is in his fourth year and doesn’t need preseason game reps.
They don’t have to risk their starters in meaningless games and, instead, focus on practice reps and health.
Instead, the strategy is to give young players and those competing for spots on the roster for depth opportunities to prove themselves and to give them experience that will pay off should they get called into action during the season.
Young players like Marco Wilson, Zaven Collins, Rashard Lawrence and Leki Fotu can get experience and more game reps. Older players with something to prove like Dennis Gardeck or veterans competing for a roster spot or role on offense or defense like Josh Jackson.
What it means is we won’t know how the Cardinals will actually look until they take on the Chiefs in a month.
Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.
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