The Cardinals have to get down to a 53-man roster on Tuesday by 1 p.m. Arizona time, but they started the process on Monday but releasing 12 players, including quarterback Clayton Tune.
The team will still have the chance to fill out a 16-man practice squad, so some of these players could still return. The Cardinals will have a quarterback on their practice squad, Tune is an option.
The transactions bring the Cardinals' roster down to 79 players.
Some of the moves on Tuesday are expected to be players put on various injury lists. Rookie first-round draft pick Walter Nolen III has been on the Physically Unable to Perform list with a calf injury; coach Jonathan Gannon said Monday the Cardinals had not yet decided whether Nolen would be kept on PUP or included on the initial 53-man roster.
If Nolen -- or any player -- is on PUP or IR-to-return at the first roster, that player cannot practice or play until after Week 4 games at the earliest.
Tune, a 2023 fifth-round pick, had beat out Desmond Ridder in 2024 to be Kyler Murray's backup. Tune had appeared in 13 games in his two seasons with one start, completing 14-of-23 passes for 70 yards and two interceptions.
The Cardinals also released offensive lineman Roy Mbaeteka, although the Nigeria native is eligible to return on the practice squad as the international exemption.
The full list of Tuesday's cuts:
- WR Andre Baccellia
- CB Ekow Boye-Doe
- TE Oscar Cardenas
- OL McClendon Curtis
- CB Steven Gilmore
- DL Patrick Jenkins
- LB Vi Jones
- OL Roy Mbaeteka
- WR Nate McCollum
- QB Clayton Tune
- OL Dohnovan West
- LB Benton Whitley
