GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Steve Keim's job this weekend won’t be easy.
The Arizona Cardinals showed Thursday just how deep their roster is as final cuts to 53 get closer for the team's general manager over the next couple of days.
Against the Denver Broncos in the preseason finale, the Cardinals’ defensive line featured players who, if kept, will be part of the rotation throughout the regular season. Quarterback Matt Barkley showed off a strong and precise arm, and the Cardinals’ backfield of Kerwynn Williams and Elijhaa Penny combined for 170 rushing yards.
Rookie Robert Nkemdiche was among the few Cardinals due to see time in the regular rotation to play the majority of Thursday's game, but he looked quick and powerful, recording a sack in Arizona’s 38-17 victory.
QB depth chart: Thursday night was all Barkley’s, and he improved as the game went on. He finished with 262 yards and two touchdowns on 20 for 29 passing. He against showed off a strong arm and a nice touch. On a first-down pass late in the second quarter, Barkley threaded a throw into tight coverage to Marquis Bundy. On Barkley’s one-yard touchdown throw to J.J. Nelson in the first quarter, Barkley threw it perfectly to Nelson’s back shoulder. While Barkley might not be needed on the Cardinals’ 53-man roster, he could find himself wanted by another team after cuts this weekend.
Maybe that player could start: Two words: Elijhaa Penny. The undrafted rookie running back out of Idaho is built like an NFL running back. He can be a bulldozer at times, as he showed Thursday night with 113 yards on 23 carries. But Penny is another case of playing at a position where the Cardinals have too much depth. They’re likely to keep four running backs with another, Williams, an option. Penny could end up on the practice squad.
Who got hurt? Outside linebacker Tristan Okpalaugo left the game on a cart in the second quarter after injuring his hamstring. He did not return. Linebacker Kareem Martin went down late in the third quarter with a left-knee injury and was helped off the field. He did not return. Cardinals coach Bruce Arians later said Martin had suffered an MCL injury and could be out two to three weeks.
A surprise player who impressed: It’s not a surprise anymore, but Jaxon Shipley continues to be consistently impressive during preseason games. He did it again Thursday night, with 67 yards on four catches, including a 30-yard catch over his shoulder along the sideline in the third quarter. With as deep and as experienced a wide-receiver corps as Arizona has, it’s unlikely Shipley will make the roster, but he has shown this preseason he could help another offense.
One reason to be concerned: Thursday night was cornerback Cariel Brooks' chance to convince the Cardinals they need to keep him on the roster for depth, which has become an issue for Arizona over the past week. But he missed a tackle in the first quarter that led to a Broncos touchdown and later got beat on a deep pass.
Cat Man in form: Entering Thursday night’s preseason finale, Cardinals kicker Chandler Catanzaro was 3-for-5, putting into question his preparedness for the regular season. He silenced all doubts with a booming 59-yard field goal in the third quarter that had enough distance to go in from at least a few yards farther back.