The first cuts were made to get the Cardinals’ roster to 53 on Tuesday, but Wednesday morning, Jonathan Gannon preached patience.
“The dust has not settled,” the coach said. “The better indication of the 53-man roster and the practice squad will be on Monday.”
Inside linebacker Krys Barnes would be back at practice Wednesday after being one of the cuts, Gannon said. He reiterated the line about the dust specifically about running back Michael Carter, who might have options but about whom Gannon made clear he’d like the Cardinals to bring back.
And with news breaking that veteran quarterback Desmond Ridder would be signing with the team’s practice squad, the team’s reserve quarterback roles seem to be staying the same as the regular season begins.
There will be no additions via waivers. Whether or not the Cardinals put in any claims is unknown, but they were not awarded any players. It was notable that two of the three teams ahead of them in the claim order — the Panthers and Patriots — were awarded a total of 10 players.
The release of Carter was a “tough one,” Gannon said. Carter, who had been scheduled to make $3 million with his existing contract, will have a chance to look around as a free agent but it was clear Gannon has interest in having him in Arizona — whether it is the roster or the practice squad.
Carter was on the field practicing on Wednesday, as was Ridder.
“You saw when we acquired him last year the value he added to our team,” Gannon said. “Again, you have to weigh him with everybody else. But I value Michael Carter very high, he’s a very good football player, he fits what we do here, and we’ll see what happens from here.”
The official roster moves to get Barnes back will be announced later Wednesday, but Gannon said his release was about “roster mechanics.” The Cardinals only had three inside linebackers on their initial roster.
“He’ll be an integral part of what we do,” Gannon said.
Also on the practice field on Wednesday was former Lions and Eagles outside linebacker Julian Okwara. A 2020 third-round pick in Detroit, he had nine sacks in four seasons for the Lions before spending the preseason with the Eagles. Philadelphia had cut him on Monday.
As for Clayton Tune winning the backup quarterback job, Gannon reiterated that Tune had improved from last season in his command, playing fast and taking care of the ball.
“I feel good about Clayton,” Gannon said, noting that while Tune can’t throw the interception he did in Denver, he did not think he’d be re-entering the game whereas as a No. 2 in the regular season, he’d always have to stay prepared. He also implied the pick had multiple issues beyond Tune’s throw.
“That interception goes to show you that, to the naked eye it looks like it’s on him,” Gannon said. “(But) all 11 guys have to do their job to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
The QB2 battle was close, Gannon added, which is why he wants Ridder to stay.
“I think he can help us,” Gannon said. “I hope he can come back on practice squad. Clayton is the two but Clayton knows that’s competition every day for that spot. That’s all of our guys, not just the backup quarterback.”
