Earlier this week, Tyrann Mathieu talked about being "mindful" of his health, weighing it against whether playing in the preseason was important enough to trump where he was in his rehab. The reality is, for many starters, playing in the preseason simply doesn't overrule health (right, Tony Romo?)

There is no official "not-expected-to-play" list but three key Cardinals -- Mathieu, CB Patrick Peterson and WR Larry Fitzgerald -- all are in street clothes and not in uniform and they won't be playing today. Mathieu, of course, is coming back from his ACL tear. Fitzgerald has been dealing with a minor MCL sprain and said this week he just wants to be ready for Sept. 11 against the Patriots. Fitzgerald was out in early warmups -- helmet on, which is rare for any player at that time of the pregame -- catching passes, and was moving around fine. This feels precautionary.

Not sure what Peterson's issue is, if any. He did have his foot/ankle taped during Friday's final practice so perhaps that is a factor, although he looked OK. In any case, it opens the door for the three cornerbacks battling for the other starting job -- Brandon Williams, Mike Jenkins and Justin Bethel -- to get important work. It's unknown how much Bethel will play coming off PUP. Jenkins has yet to play in a preseason game himself because of his broken hand.

WR John "Smokey" Brown, coming back slowly from his concussion, also isn't dressed, as is RB Kerwynn Williams. Not sure of his injury, although he was watched carefully by RB coach Stump Mitchell and trainers Tom Reed and Chad Cook early before the game.