Alaric Jackson returns next Monday in full capacity, stabilizing the Rams' offensive line as Rivers, Schrader, and Xavier Smith push depth across WR and RB rooms. LaFleur highlighted the value of these players, with four NFL-caliber tight ends in the mix and Xavier Smith stepping up as a versatile playmaker. The Rams aim to assemble the pieces and execute football the right way, building a multi-formation attack led by a hungry coaching staff.

X Xavier Thomas shined in the Cardinals' preseason, flashing edge presence and deployability as Nick Rallis pushes for more intensity. Behind Sweat and Burch, he could carve a rotational role even if he isn’t a lock for the 53-man roster yet.

His 2024 line was 2.5 sacks and 10 tackles; this year he matched that efficiency in three 2025 exhibitions with six tackles and two sacks. If he locks in, he could become a valuable IDP depth piece in deeper fantasy leagues.

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 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 Arizona Cardinals are gearing up for the 2025 season with a closer look at their roster, focusing on the promising talents of outside linebacker Xavier Thomas. Selected in the fifth round of the 2024 draft out of Clemson, Thomas has shown potential despite a slow start in his rookie year. In 14 games, he logged 208 defensive snaps, recording 2.5 sacks, four quarterback hits, and a forced fumble. As he enters his second year, expectations are high for his development and impact on a competitive edge-rusher group.

Thomas's contract details reveal a base salary of $960,000 for the current season, with a salary-cap charge of just over a million. The Cardinals are keen on seeing significant growth from him as he contends for a more substantial role within the defensive unit. His performance in camp will be critical to determining his standing on the depth chart and overall impact in 2025.