Arizona Cardinals special teams ace Joey Blount will miss the rest of the season with a neck injury, forcing a regroup of kick- and punt-cover roles as the team prepares for the Saints. Head coach Jonathan Gannon underscored that the loss won’t be easy and that multiple players will absorb Blount’s duties as practice reps proceed.

Rookie Kitan Crawford led the unit in snaps and is among those expected to share the load with Denzel Burke and Greg Dortch stepping into expanded duties. The change heightens late-season fantasy stakes around return roles and short-area coverage—watch Dortch for any added opportunity on returns and Burke for potential depth gains as the Cardinals shuffle roles this week.

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.

Arizona’s preseason finale vs. Las Vegas spotlights backups and roster scrambles as starters sit. Clayton Tune leads the QB audition, with Jacoby Brissett on the depth chart behind Kyler Murray, not suiting up. Xavier Weaver and Josh Fryar push for final spots, while P.J. Mustipher and Kitan Crawford fight for meaningful depth roles. Joey Blount and Walter Nolen add special-teams and DL intrigue. Outcomes matter less than tape and roster signals for fantasy depth pieces.

Arizona’s roster evaluation hit a high note in a 20-17 win over Kansas City as several youngsters boosted their stock for the regular season. Emari Demercado flashed on a 43-yard TD reception, signaling depth behind James Conner and Trey Benson on early downs and on special teams. Jordan Burch created pressure and showcased disruption even when two sacks were negated by penalties, hinting at a valuable outside linebacker rotation. Seventh-round rookie Kitain Crawford flashed on defense with an end-zone interception, adding value beyond special teams, while Darren Hall flashed in coverage with a pick and slot versatility, strengthening his roster case.

Coaches will continue to evaluate how these performances translate to in-season roles, especially at edge, secondary and return units. The Cardinals left Saturday with clearer reasons to keep Demercado as insurance on third down, Burch as a 도-possibility in the pass rush, Crawford as a tackler-with-ball skills, and Hall as a depth option in the slot. The Rise Up, See Red podcast coverage will further dissect who ultimately earns the final spots and how the depth chart could influence Week 1 fantasy lineups.