GLENDALE — With training camp in its final stage, the Arizona Cardinals are one step closer to Week 1 of the regular season.
But first, preseason.
The ultimate NFL tease before the games actually count, the exhibition slate can be a tough watch for fans waiting for the real thing.
The focus has been on the starters getting playing time, but for players looking to improve their stock ahead of initial 53-man roster cuts, these next three weeks provide one last chance at making forward progress up the depth chart.
It’s like that make-or-break final in college. Did you really study enough?
Here’s a closer look at the players that could use a strong preseason showing.
The big Cardinals up front
Arizona’s defensive line is among the team’s strongest positions given the depth and talent shored up this offseason by general manager Monti Ossenfort.
Even if Walter Nolen III and Bilal Nichols have to start the season on injured reserve — they remain on the PUP list as of Wednesday — there’s still going to be tough decisions to make.
The locks right now are:
– Calais Campbell
– Dalvin Tomlinson
– Darius Robinson
– Dante Stills
– L.J. Collier
Based on the team’s last two initial 53-man rosters under the current regime, there’s likely only one or two spots left.
Heading into the preseason slate, there’s three names vying for those spots in Elijah Simmons, Justin Jones and P.J. Mustipher.
It’s hard to miss Simmons, who was among the team’s standouts for the annual rookie show. The undrafted rookie brings incredible size to the interior at 6-foot-1 and 335 pounds.
He’s seen higher end reps sparingly but remains an intriguing young prospect, especially with reps like these:
UDFA DL Elijah Simmons (6-1, 335) gets props from #AZCardinals DL Coach Debo. #PauliePigskinBreakoutPlayerOfCamp pic.twitter.com/Q1IROkQCy8
— Paul Calvisi (@PaulCalvisi) August 7, 2025
Jones, on the other hand, has plenty of NFL experience behind 88 career games played (72 starts). But after a torn triceps cut his first season in Arizona to just three games, plus the additions this offseason, can he still make an impact in the rotation?
Or has Mustipher done enough to make a jump up the depth chart?
After appearing in four games for the New Orleans Saints before landing on the Cardinals practice squad last year, the second-year lineman has caught the eye of head coach Jonathan Gannon for more reasons than one.
“He’s smart and big man like that don’t grow on trees,” Gannon said last week. “He’s done a really good job. He actually worked on his body this offseason where he’s playing pretty well. He set himself up to have the best camp that he could have. He can play a couple different spots. He’s a big violent physical guy. … Hard work pays off typically.”
Who rounds out the Cardinals WRs room?
The Cardinals have been consistent on keeping six wide receivers on the active roster the past two seasons.
This year shouldn’t be any different.
Marvin Harrison Jr., Michael Wilson, Zay Jones and Greg Dortch shouldn’t have any worries about making the team.
That leaves a group of four — Xavier Weaver, Simi Fehoko and Tejhaun Palmer and Trishton Jackson — likely fighting for two roles.
Of the four, Weaver feels like a safe bet for an initial roster spot, though Gannon does want to see more play-making from the second-year pro.
He’s also been seeing more first- and second-team looks than not.
The other three, however, have been mostly second-team and beyond throughout camp.
And while Jackson has made a couple big plays, it’s Fehoko and Palmer that can squeeze him out of the conversation this preseason.
Palmer has especially turned it on late, connecting with quarterback Jacoby Brissett on a couple of deep balls in recent days. Take that into the preseason and he’s more than earned a role.
Health will be key here, as Fehoko has missed some time with a quad injury. If that keeps him sidelined for games, the door could be open for Jackson.
It’s truly a numbers game
Arizona’s new additions this offseason mean potentially less snaps for players that carved out roles from seasons prior.
That includes pass rusher Xavier Thomas.
After appearing in 14 games last season, Thomas is in the thick of a rotational battle with Josh Sweat, Zaven Collins, Baron Browning and rookie Jordan Burch getting a lot of the higher end reps this camp.
Thomas should secure a roster spot, especially after impressing on Wednesday and getting more work with the first-team defense but could be that much more in the rotational picture with a strong preseason.
Cardinals pass rusher Xavier Thomas with the spin move during 1-on-1 work on Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/4rcDugadNX
— Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) August 6, 2025
Another player that could use some good preseason tape is running back Emari Demercado.
The running back had an expanded role last year thanks to his abilities in pass protection. This camp, however, Demercado has taken a backseat to second-year pro Trey Benson.
Benson, who starter James Conner has called “RB1,” has impressed as a playmaker and even more so as a blocker.
“I think a really big piece of what he’s done a good job in is protections,” Gannon said Tuesday. “That’s a hard thing for some guys at times. That can help increase your role if we feel confident that you can do the right thing and not just mentally – get on the right people – but physically block the right people. I think he’s doing a really good job with that.”
That’s great news for Benson and the future of the Cardinals backfield. Not so much for Demercado’s role.
Then there’s inside linebacker Owen Pappoe and quarterback Clayton Tune.
Pappoe has been a fixture with the first- and second-teams this camp, working in a room led by Mack Wilson Sr. and Akeem Davis-Gaither.
But with rookie Cody Simon also in the mix, roster spots are going to be limited. Arizona kept five linebackers on the initial 53-man roster in 2023. It cut that number to three last year.
Pappoe can help split the difference this time around with some preseason playmaking.
Much like Weaver, Gannon wants to see Pappoe make the play at the point of attack.
As for Tune, the numbers game doesn’t look great.
With Kyler Murray and Jacoby Brissett locked in as the team’s top two quarterbacking options, there’s a good chance Tune is on the outside looking in on the initial 53-man roster.
Arizona has only kept two signal callers on the roster in the two years prior.
So even if he has a good preseason slate, there’s a good chance Tune is on the practice squad or even another team unless something drastic changes.