Linebacker Jasper Brinkley, shown here making a special teams tackle against the Falcons, was released by the Cardinals on Friday.

With free agency approaching and with free agent prospect D'Qwell Jackson reportedly on the radar, the Cardinals made a roster move Friday by releasing linebacker Jasper Brinkley.

Brinkley was signed as a free agent last offseason to a two-year deal but between the play of Karlos Dansby and the presence of draftee Kevin Minter, Brinkley's role never really grew to any impact. Cutting Brinkley saves the Cardinals $2 million in salary cap space, leaving only $200,000 in dead money.

With the free agency period drawing near, there is still a chance the Cardinals could make further veteran

cuts. The Cardinals were already expected to have a little more than $15 million of cap room before the Brinkley move.

Brinkley played in 15 games last season, with three starts. He had 30 tackles, and another five on special teams.

The cutting of Brinkley underscores yet another advantage of the way General Manager Steve Keim has done business with free-agent contracts, created a year to year flexibility.

The Cardinals now have a very fluid situation at inside linebacker. Karlos Dansby remains headed for free agency. Jackson is a possibility but interest in him runs to a number of teams. Daryl Washington still is waiting for the resolution of his assault case to see what punishment, if any, might come from the league. Minter is in place, and Keim emphasized Minter's potential at the recent Scouting combine.