Arizona’s preseason finale vs. Las Vegas ended 20-10 with only one notable scare: Jaylon Jones exiting for a concussion evaluation. Coach Jonathan Gannon downplayed the issue, signaling Jones should be fine ahead of roster decisions. Four Cardinals sit on the active PUP list (Bilal Nichols, Walter Nolen, BJ Ojulari, Will Hernandez) and are likely to start the season there, while knee injuries to Christian Jones, Hayden Conner and Justin Jones could push them to IR before Week 1. Cut-downs loom as teams finalize 53-man rosters.

Beyond Jones, the Cardinals must navigate whether to activate or IR the knee trio and how those moves affect depth roles and special teams. The Raiders game provided little in the way of new injury drama, but the looming roster cut date creates a high-stakes window for evaluation and decision-making as Phoenix approaches the final roster snapshot.

Arizona’s second preseason clash with Denver centers on the Cardinals evaluating a bulk of depth pieces while starters sit. Clayton Tune is the focal point after halftime, auditioning for NFL teams as a potential practice-squad candidate or late waiver claim behind Jacoby Brissett. Simi Fehoko brings a guaranteed-money edge and length, while Xavier Weaver has flashed during the opener and remains in a tight roster duel for the fifth or sixth WR spots. Up front, undrafted Josh Fryar and edge players Jordan Burch and Xavier Thomas could seize snaps with Jones’ injury creating opportunities. At corner, Elijah Jones, Kei’Tre Clark, and Denzel Burke are battling for remaining roles, while BJ Ojulari’s PUP status could tilt the competition. The game doubles as a roster-barometer for the Cardinals’ depth chart and a glance at Broncos’ readiness for Week 1 depth.

The Chiefs’ Week 1 preseason in Kansas City vs. Arizona features a notable inactive list, with Rashee Rice and Marquise Brown among Chiefs’ inactives and Cardinals veterans Valentin Senn, Will Hernandez, Quez Watkins, Sean Murphy-Bunting, Walter Nolen, and BJ Ojulari also not slated to play. In preseason, teams don’t formally declare inactives the way they do in the regular season; players simply aren’t expected to participate, and rosters can shift up until kickoff.

For fantasy-minded fans, the absences open shallow depth chart opportunities and highlight which young or backups could see extra reps. Chiefs’ pass-catching options could shift upward behind Rice, while the Cardinals will lean on other receivers and depth pieces to fill gaps. This game will give a brisk read on how both teams deploy their non-starting units and which players might warrant late-round attention or DFS exposure in the near term.

Bottom line: eye the backups who seize snaps when the stars sit. In these early exhibitions, what happens in these first drives often signals who gains a louder role once the regular season rolls around. The preseason nature of the inactives means the real fantasy impact will emerge in subsequent games as coaches reveal more of their rotation and injury slate evolves.

The Arizona Cardinals are entering their second week of training camp, with expectations high as they finally don pads. Among the players facing pressure is third-year outside linebacker BJ Ojulari, who has yet to make a significant impact since being drafted in the second round in 2023. Injuries have hampered his development, and as the team evaluates its roster, Ojulari has become a focal point of scrutiny.

With the competition for starting spots intensifying, Ojulari's performance will be crucial for his future with the team. The Cardinals are looking for players to step up, and Ojulari’s opportunity to showcase his skills may determine whether he solidifies his role or faces a potential exit from the roster.