Linebacker Glenn Carson, here making a play against the Chargers Thursday, has made the initial 53-man roster.
As Glenn Carson dressed in the cramped Qualcomm Stadium locker room Thursday night, the undrafted rookie free agent linebacker considered his fate.
He had played well as the preseason progressed – coach Bruce Arians praised him Friday and he had a team-high 10 tackles against the Chargers – but that was not close to a guarantee.
"I did everything I could and at the end of the day I gave it my best," Carson said. "Now it's in the coaches' hands. You can only control what you can control."
The Penn State product, at least for now, made the roster. The Cardinals got down to their 53-man limit Saturday with 20 cuts, a release with injury settlement for tackle Nate Potter (shoulder) and a move to injured reserve for safety Eddie Whitley (broken foot). Carson was one of 10 linebackers that remain.
The other 20 players released:
RB Zach Bauman
LB Marcus Benard
G Philip Blake
LB Jonathan Brown
WR Dan Buckner
C John Estes
DT Bruce Gaston
WR Brittan Golden
TE Andre Hardy
CB Jimmy Legree
CB Bryan McCann
T Kelvin Palmer
RB Jalen Parmele
DT Isaac Sopoaga
G Anthony Steen
S Curtis Taylor
LB Adrian Tracy
DT Christian Tupou
S Anthony Walters
CB Teddy Williams
The moves make for an interesting dynamic. After all that, the Cardinals decided to go with six wide receivers – although Golden is practice-squad eligible. Bradley Sowell remains as a reserve tackle, although that's a position the Cards could seek via the waiver wire.
For now, the Cardinals have only eight defensive backs, and one – Tyrann Mathieu – is no lock to play in the opener. The team kept newcomer Tommy Kelly as one of seven defensive lineman, after Sopoaga faded in his brief tenure with the team.
The 53 today are practically guaranteed not to be the 53 that will practice for the first time Tuesday, when the Cardinals have their first workout of the regular season. Waiver claims come through Sunday and there figures to be a good chance the Cardinals try to claim someone.
