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Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Cardinals Player Released on Cutdown Pos. Current Team Capacity Aaron Francisco DB Colts Active Roster Onrea Jones WR Redskins Practice Squad Trevor Canfield OL Cardinals Practice Squad Keilen Dykes DL Cardinals Practice Squad Alex Field DL Cardinals Practice Squad Ed Gant WR Cardinals Practice Squad Wilrey Fontenot DB Cardinals Injured reserve Chase Bullock LB -- -- Tim Castille RB -- -- Jameel Dowling DB -- -- David Holloway LB -- -- Reagan Maui'a RB -- -- Carlton Medder OL -- -- Tyler Palko QB -- -- Leonard Pope TE -- -- Steve Sanders WR -- -- Pago Togafau LB -- -- Chris Vincent RB -- -- Melvin Fowler OL -- -- Victor Hobson LB -- -- Rodney Leisle DL x x Oliver Ross OL x x

The tough decisions teams face in reducing their rosters to 53 players sometimes aren't so tough.

I've gone through the initial NFC West cut lists -- those players released at the 53-man deadline -- to see which ones have returned to their teams or caught on elsewhere.

The chart shows results for Arizona.

Veteran safety Aaron Francisco signed with the Colts. Receiver Onrea Jones signed with the Redskins' practice squad. Arizona re-signed four players to its practice squad.

Four others -- Wilrey Fontenot, Chris Vincent, Carlton Medder and Pago Togafau -- were injured when the Cardinals released them. All but Fontenot have reached injury settlements, leaving the roster. Fontenot remains on injured reserve. Update: Fontenot has also reached an injury settlement.

Some veterans on the list might have an easier time finding work after Week 1. Rules require teams to guarantee salaries to some veterans who are active for Week 1 and then released.

Ex-Cardinals eligible for practice squad Pos. Chase Bullock LB Trevor Canfield OL Jameel Dowling DB Keilen Dykes DL Alex Field DE Wilrey Fontenot* DB Ed Gant WR David Holloway LB Onrea Jones WR Carlton Medder* OL Tyler Palko QB Steve Sanders WR Pago Togafau* LB Chris Vincent RB

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

NFL teams can begin forming eight-man practice squads once released players clear waivers this afternoon.

I've put together a list of recently released Cardinals players with eligibility for the practice squad. Each was released on the reduction to 53 players. Wilrey Fontenot, Carlton Medder and Pago Togafau were injured when they were released. I've placed asterisks next to their names.

Quarterback Tyler Palko showed enough during preseason for consideration, although the Cardinals have not been inclined to carry a fourth quarterback during the regular season. Guard Trevor Canfield was a draft choice. Defensive end Keilen Dykes appeared to make a strong run early in camp. Receiver Onrea Jones showed promise at times.

Cardinals eligible for practice squad Pos. Perceived Status Michael Adams DB Bubble Jameel Dowling DB Likely cut Wilrey Fontenot DB Likely cut Rashad Johnson DB Keeper Greg Toler DB Keeper Alex Field DL Likely cut Keilen Dykes DL Bubble Cody Brown LB Keeper Chase Bullock LB Likely cut Will Davis LB Bubble Ali Highsmith LB Bubble Pago Togafau LB Bubble Reggie Walker LB Likely cut Trevor Canfield OL Likely cut Ben Claxton OL Likely cut Herman Johnson OL Keeper Carlton Medder OL Likely cut Brandon Keith OL Keeper Brandon Pearce OL Likely cut Elliot Vallejo OL Bubble Tyler Palko QB Likely cut Brian St. Pierre QB Keeper LaRod Stephens-Howling RB Bubble Chris Vincent RB Likely cut Beanie Wells RB Keeper Early Doucet WR Keeper Ed Gant WR Likely cut Michael Ray Garvin WR Bubble Onrea Jones WR Likely cut Lance Long WR Bubble Steve Sanders WR Likely cut

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt's recent comments about LaRod Stephens-Howling highlight a subject likely to shape the team's plans for its practice squad.

What to do with a talented player who doesn't fit neatly into a general position, in this case, running back?

Stephens-Howling would be a prime candidate for the practice squad if the Cardinals did not initially make room for him on their 53-man roster. Specialist Michael Ray Garvin also could be a factor depending on how he recovers from knee surgery.

Quarterback Tyler Palko made an impression during the Cardinals' exhibition opener, but the team generally does not keep a quarterback on its practice squad. The need for an additional arm seems diminished with new quarterbacks coach Chris Miller sometimes throwing during practice.

Defensive end Keilen Dykes was making a strong push for a roster spot before suffering an injury. His status seems a bit less settled.

Receivers Onrea Jones and Lance Long could also be strong candidates for the practice squad if they do not land spots on the 53-man roster.

The chart shows all 31 current Cardinals players with eligibility, arranged by position.

NFL teams must reduce rosters from 80 to 75 players Sept. 1. They must reduce to 53 players Sept. 5. They can begin forming eight-man practice squads Sept. 6 at noon ET.

As the NFL puts it:

After 12 noon, New York ti
me, clubs may establish a practice squad of eight players by signing free agents who do not have an accrued season of free-agency credit or who were on the 45-player active list for less than nine regular-season games during their only accrued season(s). A player cannot participate on the practice squad for more than three seasons.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

The Cardinals have gotten dramatically younger at running back this offseason. Edgerrin James and Terrelle Smith are gone, leaving Tim Hightower and Dan Kreider as the only current Cardinals running backs with starting experience.

The team kept three halfbacks and two fullbacks on its Week 1 roster last season. Nine other teams also kept more than one fullback for the opener.

Hightower, Chris Wells, Jason Wright, Kreider and Tim Castille entered camp as the likely choices for those spots, should the team keep five. LaRod Stephens-Howling would have to significantly liven up the return game to earn a spot, most likely.

Arizona Cardinals Week 1 Roster Counts since 2003 QB RB WR TE OL DL LB DB ST Fewest 2 4 5 2 8 5 6 7 2 Most 4 7 7 4 10 9 8 10 3 Average 3.0 5.3 6.0 3.2 8.8 7.7 7.0 8.8 2.8 Currently on roster 4 8 10 5 15 10 11 14 3

The chart provides a framework for how many players the Cardinals might keep at each position heading into the regular-season opener against the 49ers.

Here's a quick look at which Cardinals players I might keep on the cutdown to 53 players:

(Read full post)

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

The Cardinals have announced the signings of nine undrafted free agents:

• Shane Morales, WR, Oregon State
  
• Justin Brown, WR, Hampton

• Brandon Pearce, T, Memphis
• Khalil El-Amin, G/T, Cincinnati

• Chase Bullock, LB, Maryland
• Reggie Walker, LB, Kansas State
  

• Tony Davis, CB, Penn State
• Jameel Dowling, CB, Hawaii
• Michael Ray Garvin, KR/CB, Florida State

I've got some work to do in updating rosters. It's always fun to see how these additions affect rosters and which ones might have a chance to stick, although we won't have a strong idea until training camps, most likely.