Cardinals running back Elijhaa Penny carries the ball against the Broncos.
Bruce Arians walked up to his press conference table Friday morning and ended any suspense before it started.
Rosters must be cut down to 53 players by 1 p.m. Saturday, and while other teams publicize their roster decisions early, the Cardinals coach warned the local media not to hold its breath.
"I'm not going to announce the things you want," Arians said. "It's called a deadline for a reason."
There is still plenty going on behind the scenes for the Cardinals. While Arians and General Manager Steve Keim likely have a good idea about their top 53, that could change depending on trades or waiver claims. It's a fluid process over the next day, and the Cardinals want to hold their chips as long as possible.
"I think some teams are happy to cut guys and get it over with," Arians said. "We've got a very talented group. There are calls being made back and forth. A lot of things can happen in the last few hours. Steve's pretty active right now. When you have a roster as talented as ours, you want to make sure it's right, all the way down to the end."
The Cardinals have a minimum number of players they want to keep at each position, but at the end of the roster there is some wiggle room. A certain position can be heavy and another one light if a player shows he deserves a spot.
"Fifty-two, 53, who is the best player?" Arians said. "Not the best position, the best player."
KAREEM MARTIN LIKELY OUT 2-6 WEEKS
Backup outside linebacker Kareem Martin is expected to miss two-to-six weeks with a knee sprain he suffered against the Broncos. He is slotted fourth in the rotation behind Chandler Jones, Markus Golden and Alex Okafor.
If the Cardinals don't keep Tristan Okpalaugo or Shaq Riddick on the active roster, inside linebacker Alani Fua could be used on the outside at times until Martin returns.
Wide receiver J.J. Nelson is dealing with a thumb injury, and will be moving from a cast to a splint, Arians said.
"It should be a whole lot easier to catch punts and kickoffs, and to catch passes," Arians said.
DRAFT PICKS COMING ON STRONG
Rookie offensive linemen Evan Boehm and Cole Toner won't start for the Cardinals in the opener, but they are both making solid progress. Each saw significant preseason action with the reserve units and it served them well.
"Like I've always said, you're either going to get exposed or get exposure," Arians said. "They've gotten good exposure."
First-round pick Robert Nkemdiche has also benefitted from a glut of playing time in the past five days after missing most of camp with a high ankle sprain.
"Practice is only at one level," Arians said. "He didn't get to go against a lot of starters the last two weeks, but I thought he held his own against the players he was playing against."
TEAM CAPTAINS ANNOUNCED
The Cardinals will have six team captains this season: quarterback Carson Palmer and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald on offense, cornerback Patrick Peterson and safety Tyrann Mathieu on defense, and kicker Chandler Catanzaro and gunner Justin Bethel on special teams.
Images from the Cardinals' final preseason game of 2016 against the Broncos on Thursday night
![WR Larry Fitzgerald congratulates J.J. Nelson after he caught a touchdown pass](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/srbmwje6pkxdwb0p4yfj.jpg)
WR Larry Fitzgerald congratulates J.J. Nelson after he caught a touchdown pass
![WR J.J. Nelson catches a touchdown](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/cq2zyppchhpg2o5d5npx.jpg)
WR J.J. Nelson catches a touchdown
![RB Kerwynn Williams carries the ball](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/pgatbyh9anhieggfksy4.jpg)
RB Kerwynn Williams carries the ball
![S Matthias Farley tackles Broncos WR Jordan Taylor](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/s5mc8ar7uu0d33blelvs.jpg)
S Matthias Farley tackles Broncos WR Jordan Taylor
![WR Larry Fitzgerald warms up pre-game but didn't play](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/dgr81t3x1hxo1hzae05x.jpg)
WR Larry Fitzgerald warms up pre-game but didn't play
![CB Patrick Peterson and head coach Bruce Arians prior to the start of Thursday's game](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/nazapfdbdgp5levpbjwt.jpg)
CB Patrick Peterson and head coach Bruce Arians prior to the start of Thursday's game
![Broncos NT Darius Kilgo forces a fumble on QB Matt Barkley](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/kkvg0w24cinsjfmq94j6.jpg)
Broncos NT Darius Kilgo forces a fumble on QB Matt Barkley
![CB Patrick Peterson arrives prior to the preseason game](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/eddlpjzlkn3mh6sqtzwf.jpg)
CB Patrick Peterson arrives prior to the preseason game
![DT Frostee Rucker](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/s0ztkx35bq4a3v75lteo.jpg)
DT Frostee Rucker
![QB Matt Barkley](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/ybavdq4gertyza0wiqoh.jpg)
QB Matt Barkley
![Head coach Bruce Arians arrives before the preseason game against the Broncos](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/rylfnmulg7pt4vyezcrh.jpg)
Head coach Bruce Arians arrives before the preseason game against the Broncos
![DT Calais Campbell](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/mkdgfdjie6qc0kqqegas.jpg)
DT Calais Campbell
![DT Josh Mauro and LB Alex Okafor sack QB Paxton Lynch](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/u8v7mkvg1nv8rxatnryw.jpg)
DT Josh Mauro and LB Alex Okafor sack QB Paxton Lynch
![QB Carson Palmer talks with QB Drew Stanton](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/rddkcywfruhq14hsexwb.jpg)
QB Carson Palmer talks with QB Drew Stanton
![Rookie DT Robert Nkemdiche rushes the passer](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/asqjmzktts9bcrr4esoa.jpg)
Rookie DT Robert Nkemdiche rushes the passer
![WR J.J. Nelson scores a touchdown](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/p87ymsqxl1jkndbs8xxo.jpg)
WR J.J. Nelson scores a touchdown
![QB Matt Barkley warms up](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/zvzmjoaqaanvfp0h0qdt.jpg)
QB Matt Barkley warms up
![RB Elijhaa Penny](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/hwds9p977xe2sj4nkw3a.jpg)
RB Elijhaa Penny
![LB Chandler Jones and DT Calais Campbell](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/x7cnezxkwk2q8yxhtduf.jpg)
LB Chandler Jones and DT Calais Campbell
![DT Rodney Gunter and rookie DT Robert Nkemdiche tackle Broncos QB Paxton Lynch](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/rc9wajwuqefcaoh5dzb4.jpg)
DT Rodney Gunter and rookie DT Robert Nkemdiche tackle Broncos QB Paxton Lynch
![CB Ronald Zamort waits for Broncos RB Kapri Bibbs](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/gxpxy8d24ua3kule1hle.jpg)
CB Ronald Zamort waits for Broncos RB Kapri Bibbs
![QB Matt Barkley](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/hhr6rkv4bxmaotjlpe5y.jpg)
QB Matt Barkley
![WR J.J. Nelson](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/crbvtoauqu81jfwum2uf.jpg)
WR J.J. Nelson
![TE Hakeem Valles](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/npoqx8lffd5x4qghqylq.jpg)
TE Hakeem Valles
![GM Steve Keim (left) with Broncos GM John Elway](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/baavoolov29mfr4xa527.jpg)
GM Steve Keim (left) with Broncos GM John Elway
![WR Marquis Bundy celebrates with WR Jaxon Shipley after his touchdown](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/iwpxihlgaexddst5f2oy.jpg)
WR Marquis Bundy celebrates with WR Jaxon Shipley after his touchdown
![QB Matt Barkley](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/d2yjpdtcbxl5i2rixkub.jpg)
QB Matt Barkley
![S Tyrann Mathieu before the game](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/icyhlzgpidc9mwk9tuay.jpg)
S Tyrann Mathieu before the game
![WR Larry Fitzgerald and CB Patrick Peterson](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/x0xlqhmdbjvv17bykxev.jpg)
WR Larry Fitzgerald and CB Patrick Peterson
![RB Elijhaa Penny](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/lshdlftqvyrdxppjka26.jpg)
RB Elijhaa Penny
![TE Ifeanyi Momah](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/lw4ipji3mryqindtgwbj.jpg)
TE Ifeanyi Momah
![K Chandler Catanzaro drills a 59-yard field goal](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/o3mfveppkmtzuwcnwkzl.jpg)
K Chandler Catanzaro drills a 59-yard field goal
![DT Frostee Rucker, DT Corey Peters and DT Calais Campbell](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/tytfaw7qncoddgmuurrb.jpg)
DT Frostee Rucker, DT Corey Peters and DT Calais Campbell
![Head coach Bruce Arians](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/k6pq0nfm9yucjys47qtz.jpg)
Head coach Bruce Arians
![QB Matt Barkley](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/l6niu8gunr9xilo894ie.jpg)
QB Matt Barkley
![WR Jaxon Shipley](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/ssbfx101v986wcvjc5si.jpg)
WR Jaxon Shipley
![K Chandler Catanzaro celebrates after making a 59-yard field goal](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/o3re3kuiscrkrzqkohmf.jpg)
K Chandler Catanzaro celebrates after making a 59-yard field goal
![TE Hakeem Valles makes a catch](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/m6zrmd9tyworbhfpafsx.jpg)
TE Hakeem Valles makes a catch
![WR Marquis Bundy goes up for the catch](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/hmglojw1iikhqhej67fb.jpg)
WR Marquis Bundy goes up for the catch
![LB Chandler Jones congratulates K Chandler Catanzaro after his made field goal](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/sylckngqa84y4ucoe94r.jpg)
LB Chandler Jones congratulates K Chandler Catanzaro after his made field goal
![LB Gabe Martin picks Broncos QB Paxton Lynch](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/gloto83tecpsfimjsrym.jpg)
LB Gabe Martin picks Broncos QB Paxton Lynch
![RB Elijhaa Penny celebrates after scoring a 1-yard touchdown](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/dcyaehbtpecrhmrf68ai.jpg)
RB Elijhaa Penny celebrates after scoring a 1-yard touchdown