Arizona Cardinals: Training Camp Ends

Jul 26, 2014; Tempe, AZ, USA; Members of the Arizona Cardinals sign autographs for fans during training camp at University of Phoenix. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

The Arizona Cardinals officially ended the training camp part of their preseason on Friday at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale.  Yes, there are still two more games to play in the preseason but they will both be played in the next six days.

The Cards play the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday Night Football on NBC at 5pm Sunday.  First roster cuts must be made from 90 players down to 75 by 1pm Arizona time on Tuesday August 26th.  I suspect that the Cards will make their moves long before that deadline.  The first 15 cuts are generally easier than the last 22.  They could be aided a little bit in their decision making this year now that the NFL plans to expand practice squads from eight players to 10.

I have some ideas as to who is already gone but I will reserve my first list of cuts until after Sunday night’s game.  The starters are going to play no more than the first half according to Cards head coach Bruce Arians.  We are going to see receiver Michael Floyd for the first time this preseason.  I would not expect to see much of running back Andre Ellington though.  The Cards are trying to limit his preseason touches to protect him from injury.

The final roster cuts have to be made by Saturday August 30th at 1pm Arizona time.  The last preseason game will be Thursday August 28th at 7pm at the San Diego Chargers, who are also the Cardinals first regular season game.