The Arizona Cardinals played their last game of the 2019 pre-season on Thursday and wrapped up a 1-3 preseason with a 20-7 loss against the Denver Broncos.

The Cardinals look to bounce back after 2018 and the bleak 3-13 season—the worst record in the NFL—and one that ultimately led to the firing of first-year head coach, Steve Wilks.

Now led by former Texas Tech head football coach, Kliff Kingsbury, and a number one overall draft pick in quarterback Kyler Murray, the Cardinals will look to have a bounce-back season, but only after they trim their roster down from 90 players to 53 active players by the Saturday deadline.

Coach Kingsbury expressed empathy and referred to his own experience to the players who would ultimately get cut on Saturday

“I think I was cut seven times – six or seven times – when I was a player, and I remember what it felt like,” Kingsbury said on the Az Cardinals webiste. “I remember certain conversations you had, and certain conversations you didn’t have. I think I can empathize with the players and just try to be upfront and honest about things.”

Saturday arrived and the Cardinals got to their 53-man NFL mandated roster by releasing and waiving more than two dozen players.

The Cardinals will still look to upgrade their bottom half of the roster by taking advantage of being number one on the waiver wire claim and they will look to upgrade positions of need (OL,DL,CB, and ILB).

One of the major concerns heading into the new season is CB depth now that pro bowl corner Patrick Peterson will begin his six game suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy and also newcomer Robert Alford set to go on IR to begin the season.

A lot of pressure will be thrown on second round draft pick Byron Murphy Jr.

Bob McManaman, of azcentral.com offered some insight on how Murphy has looked so far in training and preseason.

“A little green, but you can see the athletic talent he’s gotten better every week, He’s doing the right things he’s hanging out with the veterans asking questions. He’s big on being front and center in meetings. He wants to be great”

One of the players to make the initial cut is former 2016 undrafted free agent linebacker Peter Robertson who actually played under Kingsbury at Texas Tech.

“One of the most underrated players in camp. I hate myself for not writing more about him,” McManaman said.

Two of the most notable shifts from Saturday was the release of third-year tight end Ricky Seals-Jones and the waiving of cornerback Brandon Williams.

The Cardinals will take on the Detroit Lions in the first regular season game next week at State Farm Stadium.