Arizona rookie Hayden Conner exited the Cardinals’ Saturday tune-up with a knee injury after just three plays, drawing quick questions about interior-line depth and 53-man roster implications. Conner had been cross-training at center as Jon Gaines, hampered by a thumb issue, has struggled to snap. A serious knee issue could push the Cardinals to lean more on reserve linemen as they decide who travels to Week 1. Cramping issues were noted for a couple players who later returned. The 27-7 loss to Denver highlighted how precarious the O-line could be if Conner is sidelined.

Convincing debate for fantasy managers centers on how Conner’s status could shift snap counts and blocking schemes, especially if Gaines can’t snap consistently. With the Cardinals juggling roster spots, any setback could ripple to run-game efficiency and short-yardage packages early in the season, making depth pieces and practice squad candidates more worth monitoring than usual in late August.