August 27, 2025 • 43 mins
The Cardinals made their final cuts to get to 53 players. Jess and Seth break it all down. They talk surprises, injuries and what could still be coming.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Z Z.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
This is the Rise Up Sea Red podcast all about
the Arizona Cardinals and the NFL, featuring insider and outsider perspectives.
Enjoy the best hour of Cardinals Talk on the Web.
Now Here are your hosts, Jess Root and Seth Cox.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
Hellwa's are a Cardinals fans and welcome to the latest
edition of the Rise Up Scared podcast of us are
Cardinals Talk on the Web. I'm your host Jessroot from
Cardswire dot com USA today NFL wires site about the
Arizona Cardinals recording episode six hundred and ninety with my
co host Seth Cox from Revenge of the Birds dot
com sp nations Arizona Cardinals site. And this is our
(00:52):
roster cuts extraordinary because timing wise is perfect Seth recording
on a Tuesday night. Roster cuts happened today. The Cardinals
cut their roster down to fifty three players, and we're
here to break it all down, aren't we.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (01:08):
And I mean we broke it down pretty well. I
thought going in and there were there were a couple
of misses, but I don't think there were misses as
much as like we again with you know, I think
Donnie Drew in talked about today getting injury information from
Jonathan Gannon's harder than getting into Fort Knox, right, Like
(01:33):
you know that that just makes it tough to like
make calls on guys like you know that.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
We'll we'll discuss here.
Speaker 3 (01:42):
So let us start with what were our biggest takeaways
and surprises about the cuts? Now, we got some of
the news on Monday. We like we heard Clayton Tune
was cut.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
That was the hot That was the I guess the
highlights were the biggest name or most notable cut of
their first group, and then they cut the rest.
Speaker 5 (02:06):
There weren't a ton of surprises.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
I would say for me, there were two players that
were cut that were a surprise. Uh, for you, were
there any of those who they let go? Were there
any of them that were surprising to you?
Speaker 4 (02:26):
Surprising is probably a strong word, you know. DJ Dallas
and Semi Fajoku are the ones that like stand out
just from guaranteed money type stuff. But outside of that, like, no, nothing,
nothing shocking, nothing earth shattering.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
Yeah, I guess the three there'd be a third surprise
if we haven't seen it. Now for three years of
the last four they cut long snapper Aaron Brewer. What
they've done that. They've done that three out of the
last four years, and it was simply to hold a
roster spot for another player that they need to carry
for a day. Uh and yeah for me. The other
(03:05):
than that, there were the two huts that were surprising
were for Hooco and DJ Dallas, but neither is earth shattering.
And so for those of you who missed it, DJ
Dallas kick there returned, specialist, kick returner, special team special
(03:27):
teams extraordinary signed him to a three year deal last offseason.
He didn't have any guaranteed money on his deal left
and and he was cut and we always kind of
felt like he was a lock.
Speaker 5 (03:40):
I I wrote.
Speaker 3 (03:42):
A couple three four weeks ago that maybe maybe that
the way for and they kept Bam Knight and so
this isn't shocking shocking, but that's a huh interesting. So
it was it was a huh they did do that.
Like we knew what was going to be Condon, we
knew it was going to be trade, we knew it
was going to be a Demarcatt and we thought the
(04:04):
DJ Dallas was a lock because of his role on
the team. But Bam Knight, if if anyone like Bam
Knight was an elite kick recurrent in college. I believe
the last year he was in school he led the
nation in kick return average, so he can replace Dallas
(04:27):
like that. He has higher offensive upside than Dallas. Dallas
is a is an okay offensive player like he did,
like he would have made an okay third down back
like instead of them are de Mercado, although he's not
as explosive in space that Demarcos. Demarcato had like four
(04:49):
or forty plus yard runs in two seasons or something
like that. So Bam Knight gives you a little offensive
upside should for any reason and Benson or Connor go down.
He gives you the return dynamic. And while he isn't
(05:10):
the core special teams player that Dallas is, as we
look around the roster, they kept more players and other positions,
and we can point to specifically the safety position where
they kept both Joey Blunt and Keaton Crawford that some
of the decisions they made at other positions make it
(05:30):
so those guys can fill the role that Dallas would
have had on special teams. And maybe Bam still does that,
but I think it does in terms of that that's
the one player where you go the preseason rewarded him.
Speaker 4 (05:48):
Yeah, and that was you know, and that's the thing
people always say, like, oh, you know, you got to
keep X over over you know, do you Dallas?
Speaker 2 (06:00):
And it's like, okay, well, what do they do that
Dallas doesn't do? Right?
Speaker 4 (06:04):
So or you know, the Michael Carter love affair that
we've talked about before. They end up putting themselves in
a position where Bam Knight just won a job this time, right,
And so often that's not what happens. And and too
(06:27):
often what ends up happening is these guys end up,
you know, just kind of hanging around and then they're
on the practice squad and then they come back when
something happens, right, But for the most part, these guys
have to show something. And we've talked about it with
Carter specifically. The reason Michael Carter doesn't make the roster
(06:48):
is because he's not better than one, two or three
at their jobs and he doesn't play special.
Speaker 3 (06:54):
Teams right, right, And I get like that was the
thing on Twitter I was on x I was talking
about it, like Michael Carter is a nice player, like,
but his specific role in the NFL has to be
running back to rights. He's not a fit as a starter.
(07:14):
He's not a fit as a third down back necessarily,
and and and he doesn't have the return experience, and
so he's he's not better than Connor as a starter.
I had some people try to argument that he's better
than Trey Benson. I'm like, no, don't, don't come with
me that, Like he's he's not better than Trey Benson
is a number two or they're maybe they're even, but
(07:38):
Benson has too much upside? Is he better than so?
Is he better than Ammari Demarcado player side side by side?
Speaker 5 (07:46):
Maybe?
Speaker 3 (07:47):
But that you you're that you're not beating him on
the roster for being better than a Mario Demarcato. You're
you have to beat him out because you're the better
third down back and Margi demccatt is the best third
back on the team.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
He is.
Speaker 4 (08:02):
But here's also the thing is like the third down
back is just so rarely utilized, right, Like.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
Yeah, well, which is weird because Petsing is all about it.
Like when you go when passing like third down package,
it's Steve Marcato in there, like third and long or
like in those obvious like it's it's like those nineteen
nineties when every team had a quote unquote third down back,
and then he had to be better. You either have
to be the return specialist or a guy that's in
(08:33):
some special teams, and he's neither one of those. And
so he was like there were four running backs ahead
of him that were better in their role than Carter
could be. And Carter's like, that's awesome, and which means
if he comes back on the practice squad, which he
could because this year he's a vested veteran, which means
he can simply resign. He's he's not going to be claimed,
(08:55):
so he can go somewhere else, he can resign to
the practice squad. It'll be interesting to see which guys
do that.
Speaker 5 (09:01):
Now.
Speaker 3 (09:02):
For me, the Fojoko cut was the most interesting because
of a couple of things. Because he seemed to do
like his signing seemed to be the Zach Pascal signing right, like,
he like he'd a big receiver, special teams, a little
(09:25):
bit offensive. Upside, it seemed like the TV broadcast was
doing their best to pump him up. Even before Cardinals
fans had seen him at all. He had the good,
good offensive performance in both preseason games, scoring a touchdown,
making big plays, and then also making plays on special teams.
You're like, oh, he earned his spot, and then they
(09:47):
only kept five receivers and they cut him instead of
Xavier Weaver. And on top of that, Fojoko has a
hundred has a million dollars guaranteed salary. And so for me, well,
that was it didn't shock me. It was a surprise,
but I wondered. I wondered if it was a temporary
(10:12):
move and maybe he's going to sign it the practice
squad and maybe they'll use him to elevate. But I
feel like with the roster that there are two moves
that have yet to be done, and then I think
the result will end up with Fojoko and Brewer back
on the roster, right yeah, And that's what I'm kind
of wondering.
Speaker 4 (10:30):
You know, everybody, Oh, Fojoko, Foko, I don't get it, man, Like,
had a nice two preseason.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
Games, played well, but.
Speaker 4 (10:41):
At the end of the day, like there I think
fourth lowest usage in three three wide receiver sets, right yeah,
And so you know that's just a big thing, right, Like,
just why do you need a why do you need
a fifth six wide receiver? Right, like obviously you need five,
(11:03):
but yeah, why do you need a sixth? And then
if they bring him back then like again it's all
hullabaloo for nothing.
Speaker 5 (11:10):
Yeah, well that's like the Isaiah the the Xavier Weaver for.
Speaker 3 (11:14):
Me, like like, he's he's like a better version of
Greg Dortch in my opinion, that makes like, but Greg,
you got Greg Dortch and he's a playmaker, and so
you're not gonna play Weaver over Dortsch. But he's faster,
(11:35):
he's longer, he's about the same he's he's about the
same frame and does the same thing like he's he's
more slot and returner. And so I felt like keeping
a Weaver on the roster wasn't more about this year
as it was about developing him and he would have
played the role that he did last year, which is
(11:57):
basically inactive on game days because as they would keep
four wide receivers active for offense for Hooko is the
Pascal special teams, maybe getting a game to block on
a run play, and that Weaver would be for next
year and then when Greg Dortsch is an is an
(12:19):
unrestricted free agent next year that you just slide Weaver
into that role, who has a arguably better skill set, right,
And so you.
Speaker 4 (12:31):
Know the other thing is this And I'm not even
going to try to lie that I watched a lot
of saving for Hoku's pass blocking reps in preseason.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
Anybody that tells you they did is lying.
Speaker 4 (12:45):
But but I mean we also know how important that is,
right to this what this organization wants to do from
a just from an offensive standpoint. So you know, guys
like for Hooku, those guys, like what is their effort
from roam blocking? And I'm just gonna use PFF. I
(13:06):
don't I hate PFF grades for the most part, but
like when you look at the PFF grades, it wasn't
good in the preseason in terms of run blocking and
that's all we're talking about here. But like so that's
you know, that's a thing too. And again I don't
think that he's gone right, Like, oh.
Speaker 3 (13:24):
He he said himself that if he goes on signed now,
which is funny. I do will find this funny that
because he was the one, uh he's he has a
presence on TikTok. He already did before when he was
with the Chargers, he said that he talked about the
waiver wire, and I'm like, Bro doesn't know that he
doesn't go on waivers this year. This is the first
(13:45):
year he doesn't. He's a vested veteran, so he's not
gonna get claim for anyone. He could sign with someone else,
but he's gonna sign with the practice squad. And he
said that he was going to So we can expect
to see Andrew Bicelli and Simmi Fijoko the practice squad
when the team makes the announcement tomorrow or Thursday.
Speaker 4 (14:03):
Right, exactly, so well, and that again, like I'm just curious,
and you obviously know my take on all this stuff,
but like, how often, and I and I'd love to
get your opinion, how often are guys that are, you know,
cuts five six wide receivers cuts and then like go
(14:25):
make significant difference in the NFL?
Speaker 2 (14:28):
Right, Like.
Speaker 4 (14:31):
People are like acting like he's better than Michael Wilson, Right, So.
Speaker 3 (14:39):
I guess that that that's true. That's that's that's true.
It'll be interesting to see.
Speaker 5 (14:44):
I think for me.
Speaker 3 (14:47):
That the surprise was that Will Hernandez got activated off PUP.
Speaker 2 (14:53):
Yeah, dude, that was so weird.
Speaker 4 (14:54):
But again, that's the that's the Jonathan Gannon effect, like
we just don't ever or no, no, what's going on?
Speaker 3 (15:04):
You know, because you could have gone with the pop
route and he starts, then he doesn't have to occupy
a roster spot.
Speaker 5 (15:12):
Key's on the active roster.
Speaker 3 (15:14):
And and here's the other part that's important is that
they kept only nine linemen on the on the active roster.
They have their starters. They have Kelvin Beacham, who's your
swing tackle. You've got Will Hernandez, which by default is
the backup guard, John Gaines the backup center, and Josh Fryer,
the undrafted kid, as your developmental tackle, and kind of
(15:38):
like the Christian Jones, a guy that you're you're gonna
see what he can do this year. And then after
Jonah Williams leaves in a year and Kelvin Beacham leaves
in a year, hopefully Fryer is good enough to be
at least the backup swing tackle in a year. That said,
if I would like if they'd put Will Hernandez on
the roster and kept Nick Leverett, I be like, Okay,
(16:02):
that means Will's almost ready that he doesn't need the
first month of the season, but he's almost ready, and
in this case, they didn't have another guard, which means
so unless and this is a hard thing to do
right now, because health between now and two weeks from
(16:24):
now or a week from now is going to be
difficult because you can only make two practice squad elevations.
And if you're already guaranteeing that you're gonna like Will's
not ready to be active on game days, then they
need to guarantee that Nick Leverett or Royce Newman or
(16:47):
whoever is on the practice squad and ready to go.
But the fact that they didn't have Leverett on the
on the final roster tells me, okay, that they expect
her is to be ready to practice this weekend next week,
and that is healthy enough to be active on game
(17:07):
day and perhaps if needed he could, he would be
healthy enough to play in an NFL game if you know,
someone got hurt.
Speaker 4 (17:19):
Yeah, And and that's an interesting question in terms of
how they're going to go about the the line specifically,
like you're saying the interior line like prior is probably
not even going to be eligible right like on game days, like.
Speaker 5 (17:34):
He's going to be in He's going to be inactive.
Speaker 4 (17:36):
That's but like unless and again, we have no idea
unless they think he can play guard too for the
short term, right.
Speaker 5 (17:46):
Right, even though how many like what did we see
he played left tackle? Right tackle?
Speaker 4 (17:50):
Yeah, right, and I'm not saying he can but like, uh,
because again, but we just have no idea on anything
with Hernandez, so like it's tough to make a decision
or a call on that.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
Then the other thing that we we we were correct
in that Hayting Connor and Christian Jones landed on in
ir designated to return, so that they burned their two
designated to returns on that Justin Jones makes the roster.
(18:27):
Then b Joji Blaw, Nichols, Walter Nolan all start the
season on the regular season Pop, I've already I'm on
the record, So like, I think Bill Nichols is done
with football. I think that's what's happened Nolan, and I
think Nolan's rookie year is mostly going to be cooked
as a result of this. And b jo Jali is
what in the world, I don't know, but they basically
(18:49):
created at least two future problems for the roster, and
that's basically it. They kept seven defensive linemen. So like LG.
Collery made it, Dante still has made it, Justin Jones
is on it, and PJ. Mustifer you know what I
and I think you got. You would agree. Doesn't this
(19:10):
with with no Aaron Brewer on the roster, don't you
think that that is pointing towards Justin Jones going on
I R since they already used the two designated before. Yeah,
that they that they're going to put Jones on and
bring back.
Speaker 5 (19:30):
Yeah, yes, that's the thing.
Speaker 3 (19:32):
But but with that, let's go the other thing that
was a surprise for me. Eleven defensive backs, eleven defensive
backs and which that I guess see he's the He's
the surprise still on the roster. So Bam Knight was
a pleasant surprise. I wasn't shocked. Will Hernandez was surprised,
(19:54):
but not a shock.
Speaker 5 (19:55):
PJ. Mustifer on the roster.
Speaker 3 (19:57):
Made sense because if you know, if we thought Justin
Jones was healthy, then muster for if Justin Jones isn't healthy,
Musterfer's on that.
Speaker 5 (20:07):
We said that.
Speaker 3 (20:10):
But the one guy that I think for me is
the surprise on the rosters, Elijah Jones, Yeah, cornerback.
Speaker 4 (20:17):
And again like we've been playing this game, like obviously
we think that I ar with with Justin Jones, right,
uh for Aaron Brewer. But what if it's not, Like
then who's the guy? Is it Elijah Jones that gets
gets cut? You know, like that's the thing to watch.
We think it's Justin Jones, So like we're not, but.
Speaker 3 (20:39):
All signs point to that, right, But yeah, in fact,
let let's move on to the next week. Can talk
about what we think is coming to come out next
to the rest of seard podcast The Best Start of
Cardinals Talk on the Web. Let's talk about what we
think is still to come. Because when we say final cuts,
it's really an initial. It's it's final cuts before the
(21:01):
other cuts. So we'll talk about what do we think
is coming to next, that's coming out next.
Speaker 5 (21:04):
In resups, he read.
Speaker 3 (21:07):
You're back on the rise of here at podcast Best
Our Cardinal's Talk of the Web. What we think is
coming up? And I think we already kind of spilled
the beans on that. Let the cat out of bag
in terms of what we think is happening. Aaron Bruern
being cut because we know he's going to have to go.
That means there's at least one roster move, and I
believe there's two. I believe there are two roster moves
(21:27):
that are going to happen that will result in Aaron
Bruer being re signed. And I think also maybe semi
Fojoko and one is Justin Jones has a knee injury.
We don't know anything about it, but the fact that
he has been sitting on this for a while and
the fact that they kept seven defensive linemen tells me
signals to both of us that he's going to be
(21:49):
put on IR and that at some point he's going
to be designated to return. Then that leaves them with
six defensive linemen, which is a normal number. They re
sign Aaron Brewer. That makes sense. What do you think
is going to happen? Like, I'm one convinced you can't
keep eleven defensive backs on your roster, can you?
Speaker 4 (22:12):
I mean, when you're your coach is a defensive back coach,
I mean, I honestly, why not? But yeah, I mean
that's the expectation, right, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (22:21):
And it's like we've seen teams go with nine and
this team's got eleven. So I think there's going to
be a trade that's just mine unless somebody got unless
one the one person in the quarterback room got hurt
and we we don't know about it.
Speaker 4 (22:40):
Yeah, and that's always a plausibility, right, like like you
can see guys that get hurt and then so it's like, ah,
we can't do that. But yeah, I mean again, from
what we have seen, what we know, I would assume
(23:01):
Elijah Jones goes after in the next week. I mean
it's usually sooner than later, right, once we get the
waiver claims, but I you know, I assume it'll be
in the next week.
Speaker 3 (23:18):
Well, we'll we'll know about waiver claims tomorrow, right but
probably before the.
Speaker 5 (23:23):
Probably before the show is published, because that's just how
it goes.
Speaker 3 (23:26):
I don't usually keep un till Wednesday afternoon, So waiver
claims will be announced about noon on, so actually about
sometime Wednesday morning, because the waiver claim period is by
nine noon Eastern, and so after that we'll know who
is claimed and then they can start forming a practice.
(23:50):
S goud so know about waiver claims, will no know
which Cardinals players were claimed, if any, and kind of
go from there. But yeah, it feels like like if
any waiver claims that Jones or Kee Troll Clark could
be the first guy off the roster, And I'm like,
(24:10):
maybe maybe there's a trade market for Elijah Jones, not
a whole lot, and and one of our buddies suggested
maybe Kee Troll Clark has the most value to trade
because he can't because he's versat, because he can play
special teams, he can play outside, he can play Nickolinny
can't play safety. But I like, I know, the five
(24:31):
safeties that wasn't a surprise because Joey Blunt is a
core special teamer and I think they like Keaton Crawford
enough to keep him whether he's active or not, or
just to plan special teams. So I thought five safeties
was they were going to have. They were going to
give up a position somewhere else to keep five safeties.
Speaker 5 (24:48):
I didn't guess.
Speaker 3 (24:48):
I couldn't have guessed in a million years that they
were going to keep six cornerbacks. Last year they kept
six cornerbacks for a day, and that was so that
they could put Elijah Jones on IR. So unless Elijah
Jones got hurt in or Denzel Burke, well, hopefully hopefully
it's not one of the three starters right.
Speaker 4 (25:06):
Right, exactly, as long as it's not Max Garrett or
Will and quite frankly, and I'm not saying this to
be flippant, you could probably and obviously especially Will, you
don't want to lose you any rookie time, but you
could probably afford to lose a guy for a short
(25:29):
period of time. I'm not saying for a season for
a short period of time in Max or Will. Just
from like the Clark can play like you said, versatility,
can play inside, play outside.
Speaker 2 (25:40):
Like you'd be okay.
Speaker 4 (25:42):
I don't want to say like you'd be fine, you'd
be okay, but yeah, like ideally, that's not what's going
to happen.
Speaker 2 (25:47):
Right.
Speaker 5 (25:50):
If you had to guess.
Speaker 3 (25:53):
If the Cardinals are going to put any waiver claims in,
where do you think that happens?
Speaker 2 (26:00):
Now?
Speaker 3 (26:00):
They're number sixteen, So winning a waiver claim is gonna
be tough because if it's a coveted player, there are
fifteen teams that have priority over them. But where do
you think they might use their waiver claims?
Speaker 2 (26:19):
Corner? Really that's it?
Speaker 4 (26:22):
Maybe maybe inside linebacker, but like you know, really it
I mean maybe, but like who's out there? Like here's
I mean don't get me wrong. There are some names
like Marcus Valdez Valdez Scantley got cut, but like, also
is he right?
Speaker 2 (26:41):
Like is he the answer?
Speaker 3 (26:43):
Well, and I gotta check because I think he's a
vested bet.
Speaker 2 (26:47):
Oh that's true. I'm not even thinking waivers.
Speaker 4 (26:50):
But yeah, So that's the thing, is like, I mean,
I wouldn't take anybody off waivers that I've seen. Again,
I haven't poured through it, but over phoku.
Speaker 2 (27:02):
So like that's my thing.
Speaker 3 (27:06):
That makes sense, that makes sense, and at corner that
corner would make sense to get one maybe maybe inside
back ye, I don't know.
Speaker 5 (27:14):
I don't like it.
Speaker 3 (27:15):
I I feel like the waiver claim this year feels
less likely and that any player that they might want
would be gone anyway.
Speaker 2 (27:30):
Right exactly.
Speaker 4 (27:32):
And that's the thing that people don't get is like,
at the end of the day, these guys that get
picked up quick, they're going to go to to you know,
the teams that have the top.
Speaker 3 (27:50):
Mm hmm, much like the Cardinals used to had. Remember
the remember the twenty nineteen year when they got like
seven waiver claims?
Speaker 4 (28:00):
Right, well, think about this to justin think about this
and you kind of mentioned it right, but what like
a wide receiver For instance Tennessee New England, who cut
a wide receiver. You know, those teams probably need wide receivers, right,
(28:21):
So like the Cardinals, So the top guys are gonna
get claimed pretty quick, Like you said, sixteen is a
tough spot think about. I mean the con not count
I sorry, the forty nine ers, Like they need wide
receivers like crazy, right.
Speaker 2 (28:34):
Now, do and so and so, Like that's the hard thing.
Speaker 4 (28:38):
That's why I said, I think it could end up
being like an inside backer type right, because they only
kept four and usually you have five. We talked about
the roster construction thing last week. But so I could
see them finding that guy.
Speaker 5 (28:53):
You see them trading for a player or would it
be trading a player for a pick?
Speaker 4 (29:03):
No, I mean, unless you're gonna go get Michael Parsons
and they've already like invested heavily. And don't get me wrong,
Michael Parsons would immediately be the best defensive like player
on the roster, right, probably the best defensive like one
of the top two defensive players in the entire NFC West.
But it's hard, like unless you're gonna give up, you know,
(29:27):
like Xavin Jordan Birch, a first round pick and a
second round pick, right, Like, you're not like, that's not
a play you make with how your roster is constructed
right now.
Speaker 2 (29:39):
So there's not a guy off.
Speaker 4 (29:42):
The dome that I'm like, oh, yeah, they they could
you know that they could go get that like helps
them immediately. But I'm sure that there are guys out
there that would fit what they need because again we're
talking about a very like transitional position. Look at how
(30:03):
many inside backers the Cardinals have had over the last
you know, three years on our gamut.
Speaker 3 (30:10):
Yeah, other than that, yeah, that kind of that kind
of takes that coming on next to the resis he
read podcast Best Our Cardinals Talk on the Web. Let's
let's talk about what do we think is coming for
those injuries we we we alluded to it briefly, but
let's talk about more.
Speaker 5 (30:25):
Let's come in next and rise ups. You read.
Speaker 3 (30:29):
You're back on the rise of your podcast Best our
Cardinals Talk on the Web. Hayden Connor, Christian Jones and
I are designated to return. Who knows if and when
they will come back. We think Justin Jones will go
on injured reserve. So he's gonna miss some time. But
b Joji blaon Nichols, Walter Nolan remain on pup. What's
(30:54):
what's your disappointment level for for o Jeli and Nolan
maybe like not saying that there was bad, but just
that that's a bummer.
Speaker 4 (31:03):
Yeah, I mean that's super It's a super bummer, especially
you know with how well it looked like they were
going to or like how much they were going to
be able to get out of them, right, especially Nolan,
Like you just think about year one. We talked about
this all the time. Year one d lineman, they take
(31:26):
a while to develop and so him and that in
that system, getting that opportunity would have been so valuable
this year and we saw a Darius like it basically
stunts the entire first year growth.
Speaker 2 (31:39):
Right.
Speaker 3 (31:42):
I thought that from the beginning that when the first
report came out that he will miss all, if not
but most if not all, of training camp, I'm like, oh,
even if even if they didn't put him, they carried
him on the roster. The fact that a rookie defensive
(32:02):
lineman has not taken any live full contact reps, that
means the first half of the season is is is cooked,
like the young people like to say. And he kind
of saw that would be joe Ja Laurie when he
was a rookie because he had that knee injury and
he basically didn't do anything in training camp and then
he was on the act roster and he basically was
(32:25):
a nobody until the second half of the season. And
Nolan now is going to have to miss four games
before he can even start practicing. Now, is it super
important that he get one hund healed. Yes, that is
the most important thing, especially when they have the seeming
(32:46):
depth on their defensive line that they have that he
would be a rotational piece at best because you've got Darius.
So you've got two vets in Kalais and Dalvin Tomlinson,
who are the starters, uh, the former first round pick,
the second year first round pick, Darius Robinson starting, and
then you've got LJ. Collier and Dante Stills and PJ.
(33:10):
Mustifer behind them, Like you would rather a Walter Nolan
instead of p J.
Speaker 5 (33:15):
Mustifer. But then it's still good.
Speaker 3 (33:18):
I think primary and and I think this is the
smart move. Let him get one hundred, like, get him
healthy and get him trained, get him stronger and doing
the third resistance or the third level or whatever they
call it drills as part of his rehab, and then
(33:44):
give him two three weeks of practice and then then
let him start.
Speaker 5 (33:50):
I mean, we can we can.
Speaker 3 (33:51):
Look forward to probably we can look forward to probably
six games of solid rookie Nolan by the time he
gets worked into the rotation.
Speaker 4 (34:07):
Yeah, and that's I mean, as long as he's back
for the playoff run, right like, and then and then
it's fresh in the playoffs. That's that's the biggest thing
for them right now.
Speaker 3 (34:21):
Yeah, And and then, Oh, Jelai, like I talked, I
said to Nichols, I think we're not going to see
him play for the Cardinals again because one if he's
able to come back and play football, the Cardinals will
have cut him next offseason anyway, because there will be
no guaranteed money left on his deal. Oh, Jelari though,
That's that that's the big What is going on? What
(34:41):
is like, what's happening? Why is a torn acl now
gonna take thirteen fourteen months to re from?
Speaker 5 (34:51):
Why is that? Why is it going to take fourteen
months at least?
Speaker 2 (34:54):
Right? That's such a weird thing.
Speaker 3 (34:57):
It's like even like even will Hernan, this three hundred
and twenty pound human being towards ICL.
Speaker 4 (35:04):
Like three three a lot more than three twenty. Bro Oh, yeah,
I get your point, Like, yeah, he's he's ready to go, right,
And so that's the hard part, right, You look at
it and you go, you go, how is this guy
not ready yet? And so this just doesn't make sense.
Speaker 3 (35:23):
And even ago like Brandon Ayuk for the forty nine
ers who had like it wasn't it wasn't just as
aco as ACL and mcl or something like that, And
it happened in week seven, and Shanahan, Mike Kyle Shanahan
is saying that he won't he'll be back probably week six.
So that means playing within a year. When we saw
(35:45):
Ty Matthew as a rookie and he had his knees
his knee shredded that rookie year, he was back in
twenty fourteen in about like playing at about ten eleven.
I think it was about eleven months. And we are
closing in on thirteen months and BJ hasn't even been cleared.
Speaker 5 (36:11):
To practice, right.
Speaker 2 (36:12):
It makes it really tough.
Speaker 3 (36:14):
It's that's just weird, man. And and maybe honestly, because,
like we talked about how they seemed to move on
in the outside linebacker room without BJ.
Speaker 5 (36:25):
Maybe they foresaw this, Maybe they knew that his knee.
Speaker 3 (36:29):
Wasn't responding the way it should, which is why they
because last year they were counting on BJ. This year,
even with him coming back, they're like, yeah, where we
moved on Josh Wett, Baron Browning, George Large, They're like.
Speaker 5 (36:47):
Yeah, if he comes, okay.
Speaker 3 (36:48):
But it's almost that it's those things where now they
make sense, Like now it makes sense what they did
in the draft and free agency at outside linebacker knowing
now that BJ's not ready. The drafting of both Will
Johnson and Denzel Burke made no sense at the time,
but afterwards, when you hear about Sean Murphy bunting, you're like, oh,
(37:13):
that makes sense.
Speaker 5 (37:15):
It's or.
Speaker 3 (37:18):
When they traded for Hollywood Brown and then we find
out about Hopkins suspension, you're like, oh.
Speaker 5 (37:26):
Makes sense.
Speaker 3 (37:27):
And it's like it's almost like we don't have the
full picture all the time.
Speaker 4 (37:33):
Well, we definitely don't, and that's what makes it hard
because we're just speculating off what we're seeing, and so
when you look at it, you know, how do they
end up getting there? That's gonna be the question that
we all are really interested in. And you know how
it gets to because at the end of the day,
(37:55):
these guys are this team specifically, they need all these
guys to be healthy to continue to grow and and
our oji. You know, it's a it's a tough thing.
And you and I and we hate to say that
obviously about Cardinals players, right but like, injured players stay injured.
(38:15):
I mean, it's it's just a reality of the of
the life. Right Like, these guys that are injured stay
injured all the time, and and you hate to see
it for a Cardinal player, but that's not unexpected, right, Like,
that's how these guys you know, come in and that's
(38:39):
how they end And it's just unfortunate a lot of
times when that does happen, because you you look at
a guy like Ojal and you go, oh, what could
have been? But but you know, that's also the NFL,
and it's an unfortunate and violent business that there's so
many guys that we could say that about, right.
Speaker 5 (38:58):
Like Rondell Moore is one of those. Now.
Speaker 2 (39:00):
Now Moore and he's not even a Cardinal anymore man.
Speaker 3 (39:04):
Right, right, poor guy before guy heard his had another
leg injury.
Speaker 5 (39:10):
But what was the injury? Did we ever hear?
Speaker 3 (39:13):
Was because he tore his a cl last year in
a joint practice.
Speaker 2 (39:19):
Right, and then this year it was just something even worse.
It sounds like, oh.
Speaker 3 (39:26):
And like he'd always battled like groin and hamstring stuff,
then he just that's It's it's the one thing about
football that's hard, Like it's you hate to call guys
busts when they get hurt, but.
Speaker 4 (39:42):
It's really difficult to feel that way about guys.
Speaker 3 (39:46):
But and sometimes players bust out because they're just not
good players. But when that's they just don't stay healthy,
you're like, that's their that's that's their body betraying them.
And but I mean, it's it's the reality of it.
Like Justin Jones and Bolan Nichols those look like really
solid defense free agent signings because they were like what
(40:07):
the last two Like Jones had played in every game
for two years, but loll Nichols had played in every
game for three years. They'd missed like five games in
their career maybe combined, and Justin Jones Leon's three games.
I are bill on Nichols six games, I are, and
both are hurt. Well, in the case of Nickels still
hurt and Justin Jones is hurt again. And so you
(40:31):
look at, oh, Monty busted? Well are they bust?
Speaker 2 (40:35):
So?
Speaker 3 (40:35):
Like I guess they are. But is that Moni's fault?
Is that their fault? It wasn't because they played poorly,
it's just there. They just ended up being a bad
deal because of that, and because the Cardinals are seemingly
first when it comes to signing defensive linemen, and oh,
I shouldn't say that after the with the two signings
(40:56):
they added this year exactly.
Speaker 5 (41:00):
Because I think Jordan Phillips was was not good.
Speaker 3 (41:04):
And what was the thing about Jordan Phillips He was
productive and had never been hurt before, and then he
was hurt the entire time here and apparently is only
good when he's with it. And guess guess who just
resigned with the Bills. I know, right, he is like
in Buffalo he has superpowers and everywhere else he's.
Speaker 5 (41:24):
Just like.
Speaker 4 (41:26):
I know, right, And that's what's so funny. He goes
to Miami, he goes Arizona and it's like eh, but
he goes to Buffalo and I was like, dang, this
guy can play.
Speaker 5 (41:35):
It's it's wild.
Speaker 3 (41:37):
Anything else of note that that you want to discuss,
that you want to bring up with with these with
these roster moves.
Speaker 4 (41:46):
Just gonna be intriguing to follow up the follow up right,
Like again, what happens now?
Speaker 2 (41:52):
Eleven dB is way too many?
Speaker 4 (41:54):
Four inside linebackers seems light, but you know we've seen
stuff like that before.
Speaker 2 (41:59):
Do they add six wide receiver? Are they comfortable with five?
Speaker 4 (42:02):
And then elevating guys on game days like those are
all things I'm looking forward to here.
Speaker 3 (42:08):
We will not have a show until next week as
we'll start getting ready for week one. Well, if there's
anything critical, it'll probably be me doing a solo show
or bring someone else on.
Speaker 2 (42:21):
But I can.
Speaker 4 (42:22):
I can do it from the drive to Vegas. I'll
just call in. I'll be like a caller and we
can long time, first time, Yeah, exactly, exactly, been listening,
been listening for a decade, Jess, first time calling.
Speaker 3 (42:37):
The awesome man. Well, we will be back next week.
That is seth Cox. I'm Jess Rude. Thanks for listening.
Speaker 5 (42:44):
As always, We'll be back again soon.
Speaker 6 (42:46):
Thanks for listening to the latest edition of the Rise
Up See Red podcast, listen to previous episodes, and subscribe
to the show on Apple Podcasts, Stitch your Radio, Audio Boom,
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star ready and always support the sponsors who support the show.
Speaker 2 (43:06):
We'll be back soon.
Speaker 5 (43:07):
For the best hour of cardinals.
Speaker 6 (43:09):
Talk on the web, Rise Up Red, c b Red,
Sea Red, and of course Rise Up s Red
Z Z.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
This is the Rise Up Sea Red podcast all about
the Arizona Cardinals and the NFL, featuring insider and outsider perspectives.
Enjoy the best hour of Cardinals Talk on the Web.
Now Here are your hosts, Jess Root and Seth Cox.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
Hellwa's are a Cardinals fans and welcome to the latest
edition of the Rise Up Scared podcast of us are
Cardinals Talk on the Web. I'm your host Jessroot from
Cardswire dot com USA today NFL wires site about the
Arizona Cardinals recording episode six hundred and ninety with my
co host Seth Cox from Revenge of the Birds dot
com sp nations Arizona Cardinals site. And this is our
(00:52):
roster cuts extraordinary because timing wise is perfect Seth recording
on a Tuesday night. Roster cuts happened today. The Cardinals
cut their roster down to fifty three players, and we're
here to break it all down, aren't we.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (01:08):
And I mean we broke it down pretty well. I
thought going in and there were there were a couple
of misses, but I don't think there were misses as
much as like we again with you know, I think
Donnie Drew in talked about today getting injury information from
Jonathan Gannon's harder than getting into Fort Knox, right, Like
(01:33):
you know that that just makes it tough to like
make calls on guys like you know that.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
We'll we'll discuss here.
Speaker 3 (01:42):
So let us start with what were our biggest takeaways
and surprises about the cuts? Now, we got some of
the news on Monday. We like we heard Clayton Tune
was cut.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
That was the hot That was the I guess the
highlights were the biggest name or most notable cut of
their first group, and then they cut the rest.
Speaker 5 (02:06):
There weren't a ton of surprises.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
I would say for me, there were two players that
were cut that were a surprise. Uh, for you, were
there any of those who they let go? Were there
any of them that were surprising to you?
Speaker 4 (02:26):
Surprising is probably a strong word, you know. DJ Dallas
and Semi Fajoku are the ones that like stand out
just from guaranteed money type stuff. But outside of that, like, no, nothing,
nothing shocking, nothing earth shattering.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
Yeah, I guess the three there'd be a third surprise
if we haven't seen it. Now for three years of
the last four they cut long snapper Aaron Brewer. What
they've done that. They've done that three out of the
last four years, and it was simply to hold a
roster spot for another player that they need to carry
for a day. Uh and yeah for me. The other
(03:05):
than that, there were the two huts that were surprising
were for Hooco and DJ Dallas, but neither is earth shattering.
And so for those of you who missed it, DJ
Dallas kick there returned, specialist, kick returner, special team special
(03:27):
teams extraordinary signed him to a three year deal last offseason.
He didn't have any guaranteed money on his deal left
and and he was cut and we always kind of
felt like he was a lock.
Speaker 5 (03:40):
I I wrote.
Speaker 3 (03:42):
A couple three four weeks ago that maybe maybe that
the way for and they kept Bam Knight and so
this isn't shocking shocking, but that's a huh interesting. So
it was it was a huh they did do that.
Like we knew what was going to be Condon, we
knew it was going to be trade, we knew it
was going to be a Demarcatt and we thought the
(04:04):
DJ Dallas was a lock because of his role on
the team. But Bam Knight, if if anyone like Bam
Knight was an elite kick recurrent in college. I believe
the last year he was in school he led the
nation in kick return average, so he can replace Dallas
(04:27):
like that. He has higher offensive upside than Dallas. Dallas
is a is an okay offensive player like he did,
like he would have made an okay third down back
like instead of them are de Mercado, although he's not
as explosive in space that Demarcos. Demarcato had like four
(04:49):
or forty plus yard runs in two seasons or something
like that. So Bam Knight gives you a little offensive
upside should for any reason and Benson or Connor go down.
He gives you the return dynamic. And while he isn't
(05:10):
the core special teams player that Dallas is, as we
look around the roster, they kept more players and other positions,
and we can point to specifically the safety position where
they kept both Joey Blunt and Keaton Crawford that some
of the decisions they made at other positions make it
(05:30):
so those guys can fill the role that Dallas would
have had on special teams. And maybe Bam still does that,
but I think it does in terms of that that's
the one player where you go the preseason rewarded him.
Speaker 4 (05:48):
Yeah, and that was you know, and that's the thing
people always say, like, oh, you know, you got to
keep X over over you know, do you Dallas?
Speaker 2 (06:00):
And it's like, okay, well, what do they do that
Dallas doesn't do? Right?
Speaker 4 (06:04):
So or you know, the Michael Carter love affair that
we've talked about before. They end up putting themselves in
a position where Bam Knight just won a job this time, right,
And so often that's not what happens. And and too
(06:27):
often what ends up happening is these guys end up,
you know, just kind of hanging around and then they're
on the practice squad and then they come back when
something happens, right, But for the most part, these guys
have to show something. And we've talked about it with
Carter specifically. The reason Michael Carter doesn't make the roster
(06:48):
is because he's not better than one, two or three
at their jobs and he doesn't play special.
Speaker 3 (06:54):
Teams right, right, And I get like that was the
thing on Twitter I was on x I was talking
about it, like Michael Carter is a nice player, like,
but his specific role in the NFL has to be
running back to rights. He's not a fit as a starter.
(07:14):
He's not a fit as a third down back necessarily,
and and and he doesn't have the return experience, and
so he's he's not better than Connor as a starter.
I had some people try to argument that he's better
than Trey Benson. I'm like, no, don't, don't come with
me that, Like he's he's not better than Trey Benson
is a number two or they're maybe they're even, but
(07:38):
Benson has too much upside? Is he better than so?
Is he better than Ammari Demarcado player side side by side?
Speaker 5 (07:46):
Maybe?
Speaker 3 (07:47):
But that you you're that you're not beating him on
the roster for being better than a Mario Demarcato. You're
you have to beat him out because you're the better
third down back and Margi demccatt is the best third
back on the team.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
He is.
Speaker 4 (08:02):
But here's also the thing is like the third down
back is just so rarely utilized, right, Like.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
Yeah, well, which is weird because Petsing is all about it.
Like when you go when passing like third down package,
it's Steve Marcato in there, like third and long or
like in those obvious like it's it's like those nineteen
nineties when every team had a quote unquote third down back,
and then he had to be better. You either have
to be the return specialist or a guy that's in
(08:33):
some special teams, and he's neither one of those. And
so he was like there were four running backs ahead
of him that were better in their role than Carter
could be. And Carter's like, that's awesome, and which means
if he comes back on the practice squad, which he
could because this year he's a vested veteran, which means
he can simply resign. He's he's not going to be claimed,
(08:55):
so he can go somewhere else, he can resign to
the practice squad. It'll be interesting to see which guys
do that.
Speaker 5 (09:01):
Now.
Speaker 3 (09:02):
For me, the Fojoko cut was the most interesting because
of a couple of things. Because he seemed to do
like his signing seemed to be the Zach Pascal signing right, like,
he like he'd a big receiver, special teams, a little
(09:25):
bit offensive. Upside, it seemed like the TV broadcast was
doing their best to pump him up. Even before Cardinals
fans had seen him at all. He had the good,
good offensive performance in both preseason games, scoring a touchdown,
making big plays, and then also making plays on special teams.
You're like, oh, he earned his spot, and then they
(09:47):
only kept five receivers and they cut him instead of
Xavier Weaver. And on top of that, Fojoko has a
hundred has a million dollars guaranteed salary. And so for me, well,
that was it didn't shock me. It was a surprise,
but I wondered. I wondered if it was a temporary
(10:12):
move and maybe he's going to sign it the practice
squad and maybe they'll use him to elevate. But I
feel like with the roster that there are two moves
that have yet to be done, and then I think
the result will end up with Fojoko and Brewer back
on the roster, right yeah, And that's what I'm kind
of wondering.
Speaker 4 (10:30):
You know, everybody, Oh, Fojoko, Foko, I don't get it, man, Like,
had a nice two preseason.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
Games, played well, but.
Speaker 4 (10:41):
At the end of the day, like there I think
fourth lowest usage in three three wide receiver sets, right yeah,
And so you know that's just a big thing, right, Like,
just why do you need a why do you need
a fifth six wide receiver? Right, like obviously you need five,
(11:03):
but yeah, why do you need a sixth? And then
if they bring him back then like again it's all
hullabaloo for nothing.
Speaker 5 (11:10):
Yeah, well that's like the Isaiah the the Xavier Weaver for.
Speaker 3 (11:14):
Me, like like, he's he's like a better version of
Greg Dortch in my opinion, that makes like, but Greg,
you got Greg Dortch and he's a playmaker, and so
you're not gonna play Weaver over Dortsch. But he's faster,
(11:35):
he's longer, he's about the same he's he's about the
same frame and does the same thing like he's he's
more slot and returner. And so I felt like keeping
a Weaver on the roster wasn't more about this year
as it was about developing him and he would have
played the role that he did last year, which is
(11:57):
basically inactive on game days because as they would keep
four wide receivers active for offense for Hooko is the
Pascal special teams, maybe getting a game to block on
a run play, and that Weaver would be for next
year and then when Greg Dortsch is an is an
(12:19):
unrestricted free agent next year that you just slide Weaver
into that role, who has a arguably better skill set, right,
And so you.
Speaker 4 (12:31):
Know the other thing is this And I'm not even
going to try to lie that I watched a lot
of saving for Hoku's pass blocking reps in preseason.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
Anybody that tells you they did is lying.
Speaker 4 (12:45):
But but I mean we also know how important that is,
right to this what this organization wants to do from
a just from an offensive standpoint. So you know, guys
like for Hooku, those guys, like what is their effort
from roam blocking? And I'm just gonna use PFF. I
(13:06):
don't I hate PFF grades for the most part, but
like when you look at the PFF grades, it wasn't
good in the preseason in terms of run blocking and
that's all we're talking about here. But like so that's
you know, that's a thing too. And again I don't
think that he's gone right, Like, oh.
Speaker 3 (13:24):
He he said himself that if he goes on signed now,
which is funny. I do will find this funny that
because he was the one, uh he's he has a
presence on TikTok. He already did before when he was
with the Chargers, he said that he talked about the
waiver wire, and I'm like, Bro doesn't know that he
doesn't go on waivers this year. This is the first
(13:45):
year he doesn't. He's a vested veteran, so he's not
gonna get claim for anyone. He could sign with someone else,
but he's gonna sign with the practice squad. And he
said that he was going to So we can expect
to see Andrew Bicelli and Simmi Fijoko the practice squad
when the team makes the announcement tomorrow or Thursday.
Speaker 4 (14:03):
Right, exactly, so well, and that again, like I'm just curious,
and you obviously know my take on all this stuff,
but like, how often, and I and I'd love to
get your opinion, how often are guys that are, you know,
cuts five six wide receivers cuts and then like go
(14:25):
make significant difference in the NFL?
Speaker 2 (14:28):
Right, Like.
Speaker 4 (14:31):
People are like acting like he's better than Michael Wilson, Right, So.
Speaker 3 (14:39):
I guess that that that's true. That's that's that's true.
It'll be interesting to see.
Speaker 5 (14:44):
I think for me.
Speaker 3 (14:47):
That the surprise was that Will Hernandez got activated off PUP.
Speaker 2 (14:53):
Yeah, dude, that was so weird.
Speaker 4 (14:54):
But again, that's the that's the Jonathan Gannon effect, like
we just don't ever or no, no, what's going on?
Speaker 3 (15:04):
You know, because you could have gone with the pop
route and he starts, then he doesn't have to occupy
a roster spot.
Speaker 5 (15:12):
Key's on the active roster.
Speaker 3 (15:14):
And and here's the other part that's important is that
they kept only nine linemen on the on the active roster.
They have their starters. They have Kelvin Beacham, who's your
swing tackle. You've got Will Hernandez, which by default is
the backup guard, John Gaines the backup center, and Josh Fryer,
the undrafted kid, as your developmental tackle, and kind of
(15:38):
like the Christian Jones, a guy that you're you're gonna
see what he can do this year. And then after
Jonah Williams leaves in a year and Kelvin Beacham leaves
in a year, hopefully Fryer is good enough to be
at least the backup swing tackle in a year. That said,
if I would like if they'd put Will Hernandez on
the roster and kept Nick Leverett, I be like, Okay,
(16:02):
that means Will's almost ready that he doesn't need the
first month of the season, but he's almost ready, and
in this case, they didn't have another guard, which means
so unless and this is a hard thing to do
right now, because health between now and two weeks from
(16:24):
now or a week from now is going to be
difficult because you can only make two practice squad elevations.
And if you're already guaranteeing that you're gonna like Will's
not ready to be active on game days, then they
need to guarantee that Nick Leverett or Royce Newman or
(16:47):
whoever is on the practice squad and ready to go.
But the fact that they didn't have Leverett on the
on the final roster tells me, okay, that they expect
her is to be ready to practice this weekend next week,
and that is healthy enough to be active on game
(17:07):
day and perhaps if needed he could, he would be
healthy enough to play in an NFL game if you know,
someone got hurt.
Speaker 4 (17:19):
Yeah, And and that's an interesting question in terms of
how they're going to go about the the line specifically,
like you're saying the interior line like prior is probably
not even going to be eligible right like on game days, like.
Speaker 5 (17:34):
He's going to be in He's going to be inactive.
Speaker 4 (17:36):
That's but like unless and again, we have no idea
unless they think he can play guard too for the
short term, right.
Speaker 5 (17:46):
Right, even though how many like what did we see
he played left tackle? Right tackle?
Speaker 4 (17:50):
Yeah, right, and I'm not saying he can but like, uh,
because again, but we just have no idea on anything
with Hernandez, so like it's tough to make a decision
or a call on that.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
Then the other thing that we we we were correct
in that Hayting Connor and Christian Jones landed on in
ir designated to return, so that they burned their two
designated to returns on that Justin Jones makes the roster.
(18:27):
Then b Joji Blaw, Nichols, Walter Nolan all start the
season on the regular season Pop, I've already I'm on
the record, So like, I think Bill Nichols is done
with football. I think that's what's happened Nolan, and I
think Nolan's rookie year is mostly going to be cooked
as a result of this. And b jo Jali is
what in the world, I don't know, but they basically
(18:49):
created at least two future problems for the roster, and
that's basically it. They kept seven defensive linemen. So like LG.
Collery made it, Dante still has made it, Justin Jones
is on it, and PJ. Mustifer you know what I
and I think you got. You would agree. Doesn't this
(19:10):
with with no Aaron Brewer on the roster, don't you
think that that is pointing towards Justin Jones going on
I R since they already used the two designated before. Yeah,
that they that they're going to put Jones on and
bring back.
Speaker 5 (19:30):
Yeah, yes, that's the thing.
Speaker 3 (19:32):
But but with that, let's go the other thing that
was a surprise for me. Eleven defensive backs, eleven defensive
backs and which that I guess see he's the He's
the surprise still on the roster. So Bam Knight was
a pleasant surprise. I wasn't shocked. Will Hernandez was surprised,
(19:54):
but not a shock.
Speaker 5 (19:55):
PJ. Mustifer on the roster.
Speaker 3 (19:57):
Made sense because if you know, if we thought Justin
Jones was healthy, then muster for if Justin Jones isn't healthy,
Musterfer's on that.
Speaker 5 (20:07):
We said that.
Speaker 3 (20:10):
But the one guy that I think for me is
the surprise on the rosters, Elijah Jones, Yeah, cornerback.
Speaker 4 (20:17):
And again like we've been playing this game, like obviously
we think that I ar with with Justin Jones, right,
uh for Aaron Brewer. But what if it's not, Like
then who's the guy? Is it Elijah Jones that gets
gets cut? You know, like that's the thing to watch.
We think it's Justin Jones, So like we're not, but.
Speaker 3 (20:39):
All signs point to that, right, But yeah, in fact,
let let's move on to the next week. Can talk
about what we think is coming to come out next
to the rest of seard podcast The Best Start of
Cardinals Talk on the Web. Let's talk about what we
think is still to come. Because when we say final cuts,
it's really an initial. It's it's final cuts before the
(21:01):
other cuts. So we'll talk about what do we think
is coming to next, that's coming out next.
Speaker 5 (21:04):
In resups, he read.
Speaker 3 (21:07):
You're back on the rise of here at podcast Best
Our Cardinal's Talk of the Web. What we think is
coming up? And I think we already kind of spilled
the beans on that. Let the cat out of bag
in terms of what we think is happening. Aaron Bruern
being cut because we know he's going to have to go.
That means there's at least one roster move, and I
believe there's two. I believe there are two roster moves
(21:27):
that are going to happen that will result in Aaron
Bruer being re signed. And I think also maybe semi
Fojoko and one is Justin Jones has a knee injury.
We don't know anything about it, but the fact that
he has been sitting on this for a while and
the fact that they kept seven defensive linemen tells me
signals to both of us that he's going to be
(21:49):
put on IR and that at some point he's going
to be designated to return. Then that leaves them with
six defensive linemen, which is a normal number. They re
sign Aaron Brewer. That makes sense. What do you think
is going to happen? Like, I'm one convinced you can't
keep eleven defensive backs on your roster, can you?
Speaker 4 (22:12):
I mean, when you're your coach is a defensive back coach,
I mean, I honestly, why not? But yeah, I mean
that's the expectation, right, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (22:21):
And it's like we've seen teams go with nine and
this team's got eleven. So I think there's going to
be a trade that's just mine unless somebody got unless
one the one person in the quarterback room got hurt
and we we don't know about it.
Speaker 4 (22:40):
Yeah, and that's always a plausibility, right, like like you
can see guys that get hurt and then so it's like, ah,
we can't do that. But yeah, I mean again, from
what we have seen, what we know, I would assume
(23:01):
Elijah Jones goes after in the next week. I mean
it's usually sooner than later, right, once we get the
waiver claims, but I you know, I assume it'll be
in the next week.
Speaker 3 (23:18):
Well, we'll we'll know about waiver claims tomorrow, right but
probably before the.
Speaker 5 (23:23):
Probably before the show is published, because that's just how
it goes.
Speaker 3 (23:26):
I don't usually keep un till Wednesday afternoon, So waiver
claims will be announced about noon on, so actually about
sometime Wednesday morning, because the waiver claim period is by
nine noon Eastern, and so after that we'll know who
is claimed and then they can start forming a practice.
(23:50):
S goud so know about waiver claims, will no know
which Cardinals players were claimed, if any, and kind of
go from there. But yeah, it feels like like if
any waiver claims that Jones or Kee Troll Clark could
be the first guy off the roster, And I'm like,
(24:10):
maybe maybe there's a trade market for Elijah Jones, not
a whole lot, and and one of our buddies suggested
maybe Kee Troll Clark has the most value to trade
because he can't because he's versat, because he can play
special teams, he can play outside, he can play Nickolinny
can't play safety. But I like, I know, the five
(24:31):
safeties that wasn't a surprise because Joey Blunt is a
core special teamer and I think they like Keaton Crawford
enough to keep him whether he's active or not, or
just to plan special teams. So I thought five safeties
was they were going to have. They were going to
give up a position somewhere else to keep five safeties.
Speaker 5 (24:48):
I didn't guess.
Speaker 3 (24:48):
I couldn't have guessed in a million years that they
were going to keep six cornerbacks. Last year they kept
six cornerbacks for a day, and that was so that
they could put Elijah Jones on IR. So unless Elijah
Jones got hurt in or Denzel Burke, well, hopefully hopefully
it's not one of the three starters right.
Speaker 4 (25:06):
Right, exactly, as long as it's not Max Garrett or
Will and quite frankly, and I'm not saying this to
be flippant, you could probably and obviously especially Will, you
don't want to lose you any rookie time, but you
could probably afford to lose a guy for a short
(25:29):
period of time. I'm not saying for a season for
a short period of time in Max or Will. Just
from like the Clark can play like you said, versatility,
can play inside, play outside.
Speaker 2 (25:40):
Like you'd be okay.
Speaker 4 (25:42):
I don't want to say like you'd be fine, you'd
be okay, but yeah, like ideally, that's not what's going
to happen.
Speaker 2 (25:47):
Right.
Speaker 5 (25:50):
If you had to guess.
Speaker 3 (25:53):
If the Cardinals are going to put any waiver claims in,
where do you think that happens?
Speaker 2 (26:00):
Now?
Speaker 3 (26:00):
They're number sixteen, So winning a waiver claim is gonna
be tough because if it's a coveted player, there are
fifteen teams that have priority over them. But where do
you think they might use their waiver claims?
Speaker 2 (26:19):
Corner? Really that's it?
Speaker 4 (26:22):
Maybe maybe inside linebacker, but like you know, really it
I mean maybe, but like who's out there? Like here's
I mean don't get me wrong. There are some names
like Marcus Valdez Valdez Scantley got cut, but like, also
is he right?
Speaker 2 (26:41):
Like is he the answer?
Speaker 3 (26:43):
Well, and I gotta check because I think he's a
vested bet.
Speaker 2 (26:47):
Oh that's true. I'm not even thinking waivers.
Speaker 4 (26:50):
But yeah, So that's the thing, is like, I mean,
I wouldn't take anybody off waivers that I've seen. Again,
I haven't poured through it, but over phoku.
Speaker 2 (27:02):
So like that's my thing.
Speaker 3 (27:06):
That makes sense, that makes sense, and at corner that
corner would make sense to get one maybe maybe inside
back ye, I don't know.
Speaker 5 (27:14):
I don't like it.
Speaker 3 (27:15):
I I feel like the waiver claim this year feels
less likely and that any player that they might want
would be gone anyway.
Speaker 2 (27:30):
Right exactly.
Speaker 4 (27:32):
And that's the thing that people don't get is like,
at the end of the day, these guys that get
picked up quick, they're going to go to to you know,
the teams that have the top.
Speaker 3 (27:50):
Mm hmm, much like the Cardinals used to had. Remember
the remember the twenty nineteen year when they got like
seven waiver claims?
Speaker 4 (28:00):
Right, well, think about this to justin think about this
and you kind of mentioned it right, but what like
a wide receiver For instance Tennessee New England, who cut
a wide receiver. You know, those teams probably need wide receivers, right,
(28:21):
So like the Cardinals, So the top guys are gonna
get claimed pretty quick, Like you said, sixteen is a
tough spot think about. I mean the con not count
I sorry, the forty nine ers, Like they need wide
receivers like crazy, right.
Speaker 2 (28:34):
Now, do and so and so, Like that's the hard thing.
Speaker 4 (28:38):
That's why I said, I think it could end up
being like an inside backer type right, because they only
kept four and usually you have five. We talked about
the roster construction thing last week. But so I could
see them finding that guy.
Speaker 5 (28:53):
You see them trading for a player or would it
be trading a player for a pick?
Speaker 4 (29:03):
No, I mean, unless you're gonna go get Michael Parsons
and they've already like invested heavily. And don't get me wrong,
Michael Parsons would immediately be the best defensive like player
on the roster, right, probably the best defensive like one
of the top two defensive players in the entire NFC West.
But it's hard, like unless you're gonna give up, you know,
(29:27):
like Xavin Jordan Birch, a first round pick and a
second round pick, right, Like, you're not like, that's not
a play you make with how your roster is constructed
right now.
Speaker 2 (29:39):
So there's not a guy off.
Speaker 4 (29:42):
The dome that I'm like, oh, yeah, they they could
you know that they could go get that like helps
them immediately. But I'm sure that there are guys out
there that would fit what they need because again we're
talking about a very like transitional position. Look at how
(30:03):
many inside backers the Cardinals have had over the last
you know, three years on our gamut.
Speaker 3 (30:10):
Yeah, other than that, yeah, that kind of that kind
of takes that coming on next to the resis he
read podcast Best Our Cardinals Talk on the Web. Let's
let's talk about what do we think is coming for
those injuries we we we alluded to it briefly, but
let's talk about more.
Speaker 5 (30:25):
Let's come in next and rise ups. You read.
Speaker 3 (30:29):
You're back on the rise of your podcast Best our
Cardinals Talk on the Web. Hayden Connor, Christian Jones and
I are designated to return. Who knows if and when
they will come back. We think Justin Jones will go
on injured reserve. So he's gonna miss some time. But
b Joji blaon Nichols, Walter Nolan remain on pup. What's
(30:54):
what's your disappointment level for for o Jeli and Nolan
maybe like not saying that there was bad, but just
that that's a bummer.
Speaker 4 (31:03):
Yeah, I mean that's super It's a super bummer, especially
you know with how well it looked like they were
going to or like how much they were going to
be able to get out of them, right, especially Nolan,
Like you just think about year one. We talked about
this all the time. Year one d lineman, they take
(31:26):
a while to develop and so him and that in
that system, getting that opportunity would have been so valuable
this year and we saw a Darius like it basically
stunts the entire first year growth.
Speaker 2 (31:39):
Right.
Speaker 3 (31:42):
I thought that from the beginning that when the first
report came out that he will miss all, if not
but most if not all, of training camp, I'm like, oh,
even if even if they didn't put him, they carried
him on the roster. The fact that a rookie defensive
(32:02):
lineman has not taken any live full contact reps, that
means the first half of the season is is is cooked,
like the young people like to say. And he kind
of saw that would be joe Ja Laurie when he
was a rookie because he had that knee injury and
he basically didn't do anything in training camp and then
he was on the act roster and he basically was
(32:25):
a nobody until the second half of the season. And
Nolan now is going to have to miss four games
before he can even start practicing. Now, is it super
important that he get one hund healed. Yes, that is
the most important thing, especially when they have the seeming
(32:46):
depth on their defensive line that they have that he
would be a rotational piece at best because you've got Darius.
So you've got two vets in Kalais and Dalvin Tomlinson,
who are the starters, uh, the former first round pick,
the second year first round pick, Darius Robinson starting, and
then you've got LJ. Collier and Dante Stills and PJ.
(33:10):
Mustifer behind them, Like you would rather a Walter Nolan
instead of p J.
Speaker 5 (33:15):
Mustifer. But then it's still good.
Speaker 3 (33:18):
I think primary and and I think this is the
smart move. Let him get one hundred, like, get him
healthy and get him trained, get him stronger and doing
the third resistance or the third level or whatever they
call it drills as part of his rehab, and then
(33:44):
give him two three weeks of practice and then then
let him start.
Speaker 5 (33:50):
I mean, we can we can.
Speaker 3 (33:51):
Look forward to probably we can look forward to probably
six games of solid rookie Nolan by the time he
gets worked into the rotation.
Speaker 4 (34:07):
Yeah, and that's I mean, as long as he's back
for the playoff run, right like, and then and then
it's fresh in the playoffs. That's that's the biggest thing
for them right now.
Speaker 3 (34:21):
Yeah, And and then, Oh, Jelai, like I talked, I
said to Nichols, I think we're not going to see
him play for the Cardinals again because one if he's
able to come back and play football, the Cardinals will
have cut him next offseason anyway, because there will be
no guaranteed money left on his deal. Oh, Jelari though,
That's that that's the big What is going on? What
(34:41):
is like, what's happening? Why is a torn acl now
gonna take thirteen fourteen months to re from?
Speaker 5 (34:51):
Why is that? Why is it going to take fourteen
months at least?
Speaker 2 (34:54):
Right? That's such a weird thing.
Speaker 3 (34:57):
It's like even like even will Hernan, this three hundred
and twenty pound human being towards ICL.
Speaker 4 (35:04):
Like three three a lot more than three twenty. Bro Oh, yeah,
I get your point, Like, yeah, he's he's ready to go, right,
And so that's the hard part, right, You look at
it and you go, you go, how is this guy
not ready yet? And so this just doesn't make sense.
Speaker 3 (35:23):
And even ago like Brandon Ayuk for the forty nine
ers who had like it wasn't it wasn't just as
aco as ACL and mcl or something like that, And
it happened in week seven, and Shanahan, Mike Kyle Shanahan
is saying that he won't he'll be back probably week six.
So that means playing within a year. When we saw
(35:45):
Ty Matthew as a rookie and he had his knees
his knee shredded that rookie year, he was back in
twenty fourteen in about like playing at about ten eleven.
I think it was about eleven months. And we are
closing in on thirteen months and BJ hasn't even been cleared.
Speaker 5 (36:11):
To practice, right.
Speaker 2 (36:12):
It makes it really tough.
Speaker 3 (36:14):
It's that's just weird, man. And and maybe honestly, because,
like we talked about how they seemed to move on
in the outside linebacker room without BJ.
Speaker 5 (36:25):
Maybe they foresaw this, Maybe they knew that his knee.
Speaker 3 (36:29):
Wasn't responding the way it should, which is why they
because last year they were counting on BJ. This year,
even with him coming back, they're like, yeah, where we
moved on Josh Wett, Baron Browning, George Large, They're like.
Speaker 5 (36:47):
Yeah, if he comes, okay.
Speaker 3 (36:48):
But it's almost that it's those things where now they
make sense, Like now it makes sense what they did
in the draft and free agency at outside linebacker knowing
now that BJ's not ready. The drafting of both Will
Johnson and Denzel Burke made no sense at the time,
but afterwards, when you hear about Sean Murphy bunting, you're like, oh,
(37:13):
that makes sense.
Speaker 5 (37:15):
It's or.
Speaker 3 (37:18):
When they traded for Hollywood Brown and then we find
out about Hopkins suspension, you're like, oh.
Speaker 5 (37:26):
Makes sense.
Speaker 3 (37:27):
And it's like it's almost like we don't have the
full picture all the time.
Speaker 4 (37:33):
Well, we definitely don't, and that's what makes it hard
because we're just speculating off what we're seeing, and so
when you look at it, you know, how do they
end up getting there? That's gonna be the question that
we all are really interested in. And you know how
it gets to because at the end of the day,
(37:55):
these guys are this team specifically, they need all these
guys to be healthy to continue to grow and and
our oji. You know, it's a it's a tough thing.
And you and I and we hate to say that
obviously about Cardinals players, right but like, injured players stay injured.
(38:15):
I mean, it's it's just a reality of the of
the life. Right Like, these guys that are injured stay
injured all the time, and and you hate to see
it for a Cardinal player, but that's not unexpected, right, Like,
that's how these guys you know, come in and that's
(38:39):
how they end And it's just unfortunate a lot of
times when that does happen, because you you look at
a guy like Ojal and you go, oh, what could
have been? But but you know, that's also the NFL,
and it's an unfortunate and violent business that there's so
many guys that we could say that about, right.
Speaker 5 (38:58):
Like Rondell Moore is one of those. Now.
Speaker 2 (39:00):
Now Moore and he's not even a Cardinal anymore man.
Speaker 3 (39:04):
Right, right, poor guy before guy heard his had another
leg injury.
Speaker 5 (39:10):
But what was the injury? Did we ever hear?
Speaker 3 (39:13):
Was because he tore his a cl last year in
a joint practice.
Speaker 2 (39:19):
Right, and then this year it was just something even worse.
It sounds like, oh.
Speaker 3 (39:26):
And like he'd always battled like groin and hamstring stuff,
then he just that's It's it's the one thing about
football that's hard, Like it's you hate to call guys
busts when they get hurt, but.
Speaker 4 (39:42):
It's really difficult to feel that way about guys.
Speaker 3 (39:46):
But and sometimes players bust out because they're just not
good players. But when that's they just don't stay healthy,
you're like, that's their that's that's their body betraying them.
And but I mean, it's it's the reality of it.
Like Justin Jones and Bolan Nichols those look like really
solid defense free agent signings because they were like what
(40:07):
the last two Like Jones had played in every game
for two years, but loll Nichols had played in every
game for three years. They'd missed like five games in
their career maybe combined, and Justin Jones Leon's three games.
I are bill on Nichols six games, I are, and
both are hurt. Well, in the case of Nickels still
hurt and Justin Jones is hurt again. And so you
(40:31):
look at, oh, Monty busted? Well are they bust?
Speaker 2 (40:35):
So?
Speaker 3 (40:35):
Like I guess they are. But is that Moni's fault?
Is that their fault? It wasn't because they played poorly,
it's just there. They just ended up being a bad
deal because of that, and because the Cardinals are seemingly
first when it comes to signing defensive linemen, and oh,
I shouldn't say that after the with the two signings
(40:56):
they added this year exactly.
Speaker 5 (41:00):
Because I think Jordan Phillips was was not good.
Speaker 3 (41:04):
And what was the thing about Jordan Phillips He was
productive and had never been hurt before, and then he
was hurt the entire time here and apparently is only
good when he's with it. And guess guess who just
resigned with the Bills. I know, right, he is like
in Buffalo he has superpowers and everywhere else he's.
Speaker 5 (41:24):
Just like.
Speaker 4 (41:26):
I know, right, And that's what's so funny. He goes
to Miami, he goes Arizona and it's like eh, but
he goes to Buffalo and I was like, dang, this
guy can play.
Speaker 5 (41:35):
It's it's wild.
Speaker 3 (41:37):
Anything else of note that that you want to discuss,
that you want to bring up with with these with
these roster moves.
Speaker 4 (41:46):
Just gonna be intriguing to follow up the follow up right,
Like again, what happens now?
Speaker 2 (41:52):
Eleven dB is way too many?
Speaker 4 (41:54):
Four inside linebackers seems light, but you know we've seen
stuff like that before.
Speaker 2 (41:59):
Do they add six wide receiver? Are they comfortable with five?
Speaker 4 (42:02):
And then elevating guys on game days like those are
all things I'm looking forward to here.
Speaker 3 (42:08):
We will not have a show until next week as
we'll start getting ready for week one. Well, if there's
anything critical, it'll probably be me doing a solo show
or bring someone else on.
Speaker 2 (42:21):
But I can.
Speaker 4 (42:22):
I can do it from the drive to Vegas. I'll
just call in. I'll be like a caller and we
can long time, first time, Yeah, exactly, exactly, been listening,
been listening for a decade, Jess, first time calling.
Speaker 3 (42:37):
The awesome man. Well, we will be back next week.
That is seth Cox. I'm Jess Rude. Thanks for listening.
Speaker 5 (42:44):
As always, We'll be back again soon.
Speaker 6 (42:46):
Thanks for listening to the latest edition of the Rise
Up See Red podcast, listen to previous episodes, and subscribe
to the show on Apple Podcasts, Stitch your Radio, Audio Boom,
or many other podcast platforms so shows are delivered directly
to your mobile device. Please give the show a five
star ready and always support the sponsors who support the show.
Speaker 2 (43:06):
We'll be back soon.
Speaker 5 (43:07):
For the best hour of cardinals.
Speaker 6 (43:09):
Talk on the web, Rise Up Red, c b Red,
Sea Red, and of course Rise Up s Red
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