The Arizona Cardinals are reshaping their roster with significant changes as they enter the offseason. Key free agents such as Kyzir White, Jesse Luketa, and Dennis Gardeck are unlikely to return. White and Gardeck were both starters and team captains, but their jersey numbers have been reassigned—White's No. 7 to Jacoby Brissett and Gardeck's No. 45 to rookie Oscar Cardenas. Luketa, who ended last season on injured reserve, was not tendered and has yet to find a new team, with his No. 43 now belonging to Mykal Walker.

This move hints at the Cardinals' commitment to moving forward without these veterans as they look to integrate new talent like Akeem Davis-Gaither and rookie Cody Simon into the defensive lineup. Although Will Hernandez still has his No. 76 available, which leaves a glimmer of hope for his return, other free agents like Krys Barnes are also on the chopping block. As the offseason progresses, these roster decisions will shape the team's identity heading into the upcoming season.

The Arizona Cardinals are keen on strengthening their linebacker corps with a potential acquisition of Ja'Whaun Bentley, a former New England Patriot. After signing Akeem Davis-Gaither and Mykal Walker, the Cardinals are considering Bentley who brings experience and leadership, having been a starter since 2020 before a season-ending injury last year. Bentley's history of posting over 100 tackles in three consecutive seasons suggests he can provide substantial defensive support if healthy.

General Manager Monti Ossenfort, who previously scouted Bentley for the Patriots, might see him as a fitting addition to mentor the younger linebackers. With Davis-Gaither set to start, Bentley’s presence could enhance the overall performance of the defense, making the Cardinals a formidable force on that side of the ball.

The Arizona Cardinals have finalized a one-year contract with linebacker Mykal Walker, formerly of the Washington Commanders, worth $1.79 million. This deal includes a $500,000 guarantee, which consists of a $200,000 signing bonus and $300,000 from his 2025 base salary. Walker, who played all 17 games last season, can also earn additional bonuses totaling $255,000 for offseason workouts and per-game roster bonuses. Walker joins a list of recently signed players, contributing to a total cap hit of $20.548 million for the team this year, as they await additional figures from new and re-signed players.

The Detroit Lions have opted to retain veteran quarterback Teddy Bridgewater as the backup to Jared Goff for their upcoming playoff game against the Washington Commanders, choosing him over Hendon Hooker. Bridgewater, who was signed recently after a stint coaching at his high school, has been Goff's backup for most of the season, albeit rarely used. Hooker will serve as the emergency quarterback in this crucial matchup.

The Lions are facing significant injury challenges, having ruled out several key players including rookie cornerback Ennis Rakestraw and starting right guard Kevin Zeitler. The Commanders, meanwhile, activated tight end Colson Yankoff from injured reserve and elevated two players from the practice squad to bolster their lineup.

The Detroit Lions will face significant challenges in their upcoming divisional round matchup against the Washington Commanders as starting right guard Kevin Zeitler has been ruled out due to a hamstring injury. Zeitler suffered this injury during the regular-season finale against the Minnesota Vikings on January 5. His absence is a considerable blow to the Lions' offensive line, which will need to adjust with either rookie Christian Mahogany or Kayode Awosika stepping into the starting role.

In addition to Zeitler, the Lions will be without defensive lineman Pat O’Connor, who is dealing with a calf injury. Cornerback Ennis Rakestraw is questionable as he grapples with a hamstring issue along with an illness, leaving the Lions with a few uncertainties heading into Saturday night’s game. Coach Dan Campbell remains optimistic about his team's prospects despite these setbacks, expressing confidence in the backups.

The Commanders, on the other hand, are likely to field a full-strength team, including six-time All-Pro linebacker Bobby Wagner, who has overcome an ankle injury that sidelined him for practice earlier in the week. Wagner, who played a pivotal role in the team’s wild-card victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, has downplayed any concerns regarding his health, focusing instead on the upcoming game. Rookie linebacker Jordan Magee has been ruled out due to a hamstring issue, while linebacker Mykal Walker and rookie tight end Colson Yankoff are both listed as questionable due to illness and injury respectively. Meanwhile, kicker Zane Gonzalez, who secured the win against Tampa Bay with a last-second field goal, is expected to play despite earlier concerns regarding his hip injury.