Arizona Cardinals: The wide receiver battle

The Arizona Cardinals have tough decisions to make this week including wide receiver

The Arizona Cardinals have plenty of tough decisions to make this week. One of them will be at wide receiver. They currently have 11 on the roster.

Teams have to cut down to a 75-man roster by Tuesday afternoon at 1:00 pm. Arizona time. I see the receiving core being dwindled down to at least eight come Tuesday. My apologies to Frankie Okafor, Marquis Bundy, and likely Amir Carlisle. Carlisle could be a guy they re-sign to the practice squad later on.

That will likely leave Brittan Golden, Chris Hubert, and Jaxon Shipley as the remaining candidates to take the 6th receiver slot. The Cardinals have historically kept six receivers during the Steve Keim/Bruce Arians era.

Golden’s name hasn’t been called much this preseason but the Cardinals have a pretty solid idea of what he can and can’t do by now. Hubert has impressed in camp. Shipley has been given ample opportunity in games to make plays.

Shipley hasn’t been able to make the splash some thought he would. He’s dropped some passes over the first two preseason games that gives you pause.

For the three, it could comes down to who the Cardinals believe is the better special teams player. That is where that sixth receiver would see the bulk of his playing time.

More from Raising Zona

Of course there is the question of maybe keeping just five receivers. I can’t see it right now given the questionable health status of John Brown and Larry Fitzgerald. Brown has been out most of camp due to a concussion and just returned to practice this week. He then left his first practice early.

Fitz did not play last Friday against the San Diego Chargers and likely won’t play against the Houston Texans on Sunday. He has a sprained MCL. While not serious, at this point the Cardinals must be very cautious with him if they want to keep him healthy all season.

Hubert is a guy who if he doesn’t make the team, also could be a practice squad candidate. There are a number of guys who are great practice squad candidates though. The Cardinals may already have their minds made up no matter how the last two preseason games play out.

However Golden, Hubert, and Shipley will all likely see one more extensive shot at making the roster in next Thursday night’s game at home against the Denver Broncos.

Home/Cardinals News