Cardinals Get Down To 53

The Cardinals finalized their initial 53-man roster with the following moves:

Released:

• WR Andre Baccellia
• LB Markus Bailey
• LB Krys Barnes
• OL Jackson Barton
• DL T.J. Carter
• S Andre Chachere
• WR Dan Chisena
• OL Keith Ismael
• CB Bobby Price
• OL Elijah Wilkinson

Waived:

• RB Michael Carter
• CB Jaden Davis
• RB Hassan Hall
• OL Marquis Hayes
• DL Phil Hoskins
• DL Naquan Jones
• LB Tyreek Maddox-Williams
• DL Myles Murphy
• LB Trevor Nowaske
• WR Tejhaun Palmer
• QB Desmond Ridder (story)
• TE Bernhard Seikovits
• LB Tyreke Smith
• DL Ben Stille
• TE Blake Whiteheart
• CB Divaad Wilson

Waived/injured:

• TE Sage Surratt

Placed on IR:

• RB Tony Jones Jr.

Placed on IR (designated for return):

• OL Christian Jones
• DL Darius Robinson

We’ve already reported on the most notable name, Ridder. The Cardinals instead opted to rely on second-year passer Clayton Tune to back up Kyler Murray behind center. There’s still a chance Ridder could remain on the practice squad as QB3.

Robinson and Jones will miss the first four games of the season, but both have been designated to return from IR eventually. Jones Jr. will miss the 2024 season, though.

Two rookie draft picks failed to make the 53-man. Alabama Birmingham receiver Palmer (sixth-round) and Miami (FL) cornerback Davis (seventh-round) both hit the waiver wire following the preseason. Undrafted receiver Xavier Weaver out of Colorado, does make the roster, though.

Other surprises were the cutting of Carter and Barnes. Carter struggled last year before parting ways with the Jets, who drafted him in the fourth round in 2021. Six games in Arizona last year were not enough to warrant a return in 2024 on the active roster. Carter had been shopped around a bit as of late, but with no buyers, he hits the waiver wire. Barnes started six games for the team last year after three years in Green Bay, where he started 24 games.