It's an early edition of a "Before" post, but later today I will put up my guesstimate at the final 53-man roster -- at least the one the Cardinals figure to have without knowing who is cut from other teams and who the Cards might try to claim on waivers or sign. Before then, there is a game to play.

It's a different kind of game, since most starters won't even be dressed. This game is about precious few rosters spots and the push to at least be asked on the practice squad (or trying to impress 31 other teams to pick someone up). Bruce Arians estimated the Cardinals have about 12 players fighting for about four spots. Impossible to know what we are talking about, but here are some of the positions/players that could be in that conversation:

Offensive line: Earl Watford as tackle/G Cole Toner/C Evan Boehm/T John Wetzel. Watford figures to make this team because he's so versatile. And Toner has made a strong push to stay after seeming to be a long shot when camp opened. Boehm, as a fourth-round pick, will stick, but can he keep pushing to see if he gets playing time. Here's the question: Can Watford show something at tackle so that, at least for now, he can back up there?

Secondary: CB Cariel Brooks/CB Harlan Miller/CB Ronald Zamort/S Matthias Farley. It was telling when Arians, asked about the cornerbacks beyond Justin Bethel and Brandon Williams at this point, only mentioned Brooks, who has put himself in a good place for the 53 especially given the Mike Jenkins injury. Can another cornerback step up? At safety, the Cards already have so many in play (Branch, Mathieu, Swearinger, Jefferson, Christian).

ILB: Chris Clemons/Lamar Louis/Donald Butler/Alani Fua/Gabe Martin. Technically, Clemons is listed as a safety but he's basically been Deone Bucannon's "moneybacker" backup. Do the Cards stick with the vet? Or is the youth of say, Martin make sense. Lamar Louis has been very good on special teams too. For these guys, special teams may be the place to watch.

There are others, but with everything done over the summer and camp and three preseason games, most decisions have already been made.

-- The Broncos have already announced that their No. 1 pick, quarterback Paxton Lynch, will play the entire game Thursday. He's their QB of the future. It's something interesting even for Cardinals fans -- and you wonder, had Lynch fallen to No. 29, if the Cards would have grabbed him.

-- Arians isn't sure cutting down the preseason will help the teams. Yes, injuries can happen, but he said doesn't think two preseason games is enough to prep a team for the season.

"I think you have to build your roster, and the only way to build it is see these kids play," Arians said. "The fourth preseason game is not for your starters. It's for those guys who you build your roster on, build your practice squad on, the guys who need that week of work and that game. You'll need them in November and December."

-- Arians isn't worried about the leadership/knowledge lost in the secondary with the departures of Rashad Johnson and Jerraud Powers. Patrick Peterson, Tyrann Mathieu and Tony Jefferson have worked to fill that void. "All those guys making all the checks," Arians said. "And with that, they're not leaning on somebody. They used to lean on Rashad, so they wouldn't study as hard."

-- Mathieu and John "Smokey" Brown have been cleared to play, but honestly, I'll be surprised if either does play. As for Justin Bethel, with a sore foot, does he give it a try? He may just rest too. Arians said Bethel will have to play with a sore foot all season, but Bethel had already said he had to play with soreness last year as well.

-- Final cuts won't be announced until the weekend (they are due at 1 p.m. Arizona time Saturday). Until then, let's finish up the preseason.