Arizona's 53-man scramble after a 20-10 win over Las Vegas centers on three Cardinals on the roster bubble: Michael Carter, P.J. Mustipher and Xavier Thomas. Carter brings burst and pass-game potential, but depth and special-teams trade-offs loom behind Conner, Benson and Demercado. Mustipher is a solid depth piece on a deep defensive line, yet theDL crowd—Campbell, Tomlinson, Robinson, Stills, Jones and Jones—could squeeze him unless an injury shake-out clears space. Thomas faces a tight outside linebacking group, with Ojulari’s PUP status as a wild card that could tilt the odds.

Ojulari’s return off PUP would narrow the path for Thomas; if he remains sidelined, Thomas could survive on the roster’s edge. The tale also touches on Walter Nolen’s potential return, which could further complicate keeps. In short, talent clashes with roster realities as the Cards trim to 53 by Tuesday afternoon, with young depth and special-teams value pivotal.

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.

The Arizona Cardinals are gearing up for training camp, starting on July 22, with a focus on shaping their roster and defining player roles for the 2024 season. One key player in this process is defensive lineman P.J. Mustipher, who was previously an undrafted free agent and joined the Cardinals' practice squad last year.

Mustipher, a former Penn State standout, served as a team captain in his senior year and recorded impressive stats, including 145 tackles and 3 sacks during his college career. His journey through the NFL saw him sign with the Broncos, move to the Saints and Eagles before landing with the Cardinals. As a player with family ties to the league—his brother Sam plays for the Tennessee Titans—Mustipher's development will be closely watched as he aims to secure a spot on the active roster and make an impact in the upcoming season.