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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Jess Root

Positions the Cardinals will likely address in upcoming roster moves

The Arizona Cardinals made their moves to get the roster down to 53 players (and actually left it at 52 players). But with their initial moves, there are imbalances and holes on the roster at certain positions.

These are the positions the Cardinals are almost certain to address in the days to come.

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Center

Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

Hjalte Froholdt is definitely the starting center, He is the only center on the roster. Rookie Jon Gaines was set to be the backup but injured his knee in the preseason finale and was placed on injured reserve before making the final 53, meaning his season is over.

Veteran Pat Elflein, signed as veteran insurance in training camp, promptly got hurt and was also placed on IR.

 

Long snapper

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Aaron Brewer was cut, leaving the Cardinals with no long snapper on the roster, which is fine if they never plan on punting, kicking field goals or plan on going for two after every touchdown.

Since that isn’t likely, they need one.

They likely bring back Brewer in a day or two after the dust settles on roster moves but it is a position to address.

Safety

Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

The Cardinals only have three safeties on the roster. If Jalen Thompson is going to play nickel, then they would have no other options other than Jovante Moffatt to play.

Expect a safety to be added in the next few days.

Quarterback

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jeff Driskel (19) during minicamp at the Cardinals Dignity Health Training Center in Tempe on June 14, 2023.

The Cardinals only have two quarterbacks on the roster. With the league’s new rule permitting an emergency third QB available on game days, having three makes sense, and that QB must be part of the 53-man roster.

It has been reported that Jeff Driskel could be re-signed, but whether it is him or another guy, we probably will see a quarterback added.

Running back

 (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)

The Cardinals kept only three running backs on the roster, including undrafted rookie Emaru Demercado.

Of the mentioned positions, this might be the lowest priority of the ones mentioned for the active roster, as they could easily roll with other backs on the practice squad.

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