Arizona's cornerback unit is feeling the impact of a wave of injuries. Murphy-Bunting and Starling Thomas were already out, and Williams, Melton, and Will Johnson left Week 2 with injuries. With a Week 3 trip to San Francisco on the horizon and midseason tests vs Green Bay and Dallas looming, the Cardinals are relying on Kei'Trel Clark, Elijah Jones, and Denzel Burke to soak up snaps. Bryce Young’s 328-yard, 3-TD day against Arizona underscored the risk, making the health of the secondary pivotal for fantasy angles.

Kei'Trel Clark has earned upside with increased usage, while Burke’s heavy workload could become a seasonal turning point if Melton and Johnson don’t return soon. This situation creates volatility for Cardinals players and could open opportunities for opponents in upcoming matchups.

Arizona trimmed to 53 with four surprises: Bam Knight landed the Cardinals’ fourth running back spot, adding offensive upside and a hoped-for kickoff-return role after DeeJay Dallas was cut. Josh Fryar, undrafted but versatile, earned a spot as the ninth offensive lineman, likely inactive unless injuries arise. P.J. Mustipher cracked the 53 despite a deep DL room, helped by injuries to Nichols, Nolen and Jones. Elijah Jones survived a crowded secondary as part of 11 defensive backs.

For fantasy managers, Knight’s joining a crowded but intriguing RB group and his special-teams value could push him into late-round consideration in deeper leagues, while Fryar’s backup-tackle path hints at future security. Mustipher’s rise and Jones’s development in a six-CB lineup could influence how Arizona allocates snaps and streamlines depth in a defensive-heavy scheme.

Arizona's 53-man decisions point to two likely moves that could shape Week 1 fantasy value. Justin Jones appears headed for IR, opening a spot that could let Aaron Brewer return as long snapper and stabilize special teams. The club may also explore a cornerback trade, with Elijah Jones and Kei'Trel Clark listed as intriguing targets. Expect depth-chart reshuffles and heightened focus on ST roles as the Cardinals finalize their roster.

The Arizona Cardinals’ No. 28 has a longer, if uneven, lineage than most numbers. Elijah Jones holds the current mark, wearing 28 as a cornerback who spent last season on injured reserve and now competes for a roster spot four weeks before the season opener against New Orleans. The countdown highlights a parade of players who carried No. 28 across eras, including Ahmad Rashad in the early 1970s, Justin Bethel, Rashard Mendenhall, and J.J. Arrington, among others. The piece notes there have been no legendary 28s, but several who left meaningful marks—Bethel on special teams and Rashad as a future Pro Bowler after leaving Arizona. The roster glimpse and history create a fresh fantasy lens: a single digit with a surprisingly varied impact across decades of Cardinals football.

Elijah Jones is the contemporary focal point, with the 28 jersey signaling opportunity and a path for fantasy upside if he wins a role in the secondary. The historical roll call also nods to Rashad’s eventual stardom and Bethel’s special-teams durability, illustrating how a number can outgrow its role on one team and carry forward as a thread through an organization’s evolving depth chart. In weekly fantasy projections, No. 28 becomes a curiosity—could Jones or a future 28 wear bring a sleeper bonus, or does the legacy tilt toward the more storied players who wore it previously?