The Arizona Cardinals play their preseason opener on Thursday against the Carolina Panthers in the Hall of Fame Game. They kick off from Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, at 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. Arizona time).
Cardinals starters and key rotational players are not expected to suit up. Head coach Mike LaFleur said that roughly 35 players on the roster would not play.
Of those expected to play, who are the guys to watch for?
QB Carson Beck
Beck gets the start at quarterback. It will be his first NFL action as a rookie. He started a ton in college — 43 games between Georgia and Miami. As a third-round pick, there is the hope that maybe he can be good enough to be a starting quarterback in the future. That starts with looking competent on Thursday. He will be playing
with deep backups, but he will also likely be facing deep backups for the Panthers. Can he handle operations well and deliver good throws, making good decisions?
RB Bam Knight
With Trey Benson bothered by a knee injury and possibly not able to play, Knight will get to show whether he can win the fourth running back spot again. It will be a battle between him, Benson, Corey Kiner and newly acquired Edward Hull. Knight might see time as a kick returner, too.
WR Reggie Virgil
Virgil was the Cardinals' fifth-round pick this year, and he has caught eyes over the last week in training camp. He will battle for one of the final receiver spots on the roster. Keep an eye on him on special teams, too.
OTs Jayden Williams, Josh Fryar
Fryar made the roster last season. Williams is a rookie seventh-round pick, but he seems to be in the mix for a roster spot as a backup tackle. How will they both look in llive game action?
OLB Jordan Burch, OLB BJ Ojulari
Burch was the Cardinals' third-round pick last year, and he was pretty forgettable on the field as a rookie. He had no sacks, but he has earned praise from coaches, and his size is intriguing.
This will be Ojulari's first preseason game since 2023. Once believed to be the most talented pass rusher on the roster, injuries have derailed his last two seasons. Can he show some dominance against players battling to make an NFL roster?
CB Elijah Jones
Now in his third season with only a handful of NFL snaps, can he show he is ready to compete for a roster spot? It is a crowded cornerback room, but his size and athleticism are rare. Can he look good against lower-tier offensive players?
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This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: Hall of Fame Game: Arizona Cardinals players to watch
