The Arizona Cardinals cut 11 players, placed two on injured reserve and waived/injured two others on Monday and Tuesday to trim their roster to the NFL-mandated 75 players. Here's a closer look at the first cuts:
Most significant move: Of the players who were cut, the most significant move was TE Gerald Christian. He was Mr. Irrelevant in 2015 and had a shot to make last year’s roster before a knee injury cost him his rookie season. Christian had a shot at cracking the Cards' tight end room because of his toughness and blocking ability, and his contributions to special teams gave him an outside shot to make the roster.
Cards cut corners: Among the 15 no longer on the roster were five cornerbacks. Two (Asa Jackson and Shaun Prater) were cut, two (Mike Jenkins and Elie Bouka) were placed on injured reserve, and another (Alan Ball) was waived/injured. For a team close to desperately needing depth at cornerback, five players are a lot to lose, but these tight ends had to be pretty unworthy of making the roster if they were released this early.
Short shot at long snapper: Cardinals coach Bruce Arians was consistent throughout training camp in saying that the two-man race at long snapper would take all four games. But it didn't. Kameron Canaday won the job, which led to Daniel Dillon's release.
Cardinals' moves: Released: G Jake Bernstein, WR Amir Carlisle, TE Gerald Christian, T Clay DeBord, LS Daniel Dillon, DT Iosia Iosia, CB Asa Jackson, WR Franky Okafor, CB Shaun Prater, P Garret Swanson, S Tyrequek Zimmerman. IR: CB Mike Jenkins, CB Elie Bouka. Waived/injured: QB Jake Coker, CB Alan Ball.
