Cardinals conduct emergency depth tryouts as injuries mount ahead of camp
With incumbent punter Blake Gillikin recovering from a back issue and rookie Kaleb Proctor sidelined by a knee injury, the Arizona Cardinals are testing five new candidates to bolster their defensive line and special teams units.
The Arizona Cardinals held tryouts for five players on Tuesday, marking the final roster adjustments before the team reports to training camp on Wednesday. The session focused on two punters and three defensive linemen, a move that signals the organisation is actively managing significant depth concerns across both units.
The punters invited to camp were Browning and Robbins. Browning handled kicking duties for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2024, appearing in five games. Robbins, who served as the punter for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2023, spent the 2024 season largely sidelined by injury before making a single appearance for the Buffalo Bills last season.
On the defensive line, the Cardinals evaluated Hamilton, Izzard, and Roy. Hamilton is a rookie free agent who spent four seasons at Tulane between 2022 and 2025. Izzard, a Penn State graduate, spent 2025 on the New Orleans Saints’ practice squad as an undrafted rookie. Roy, a 2023 fifth-round pick originally selected by the Minnesota Vikings, played six games for the Patriots in 2024 after spending the previous season on injured reserve.
The timing of these additions coincides with injury updates regarding key roster players. Incumbent punter Blake Gillikin, who was re-signed this offseason after missing the final 12 games of the previous year due to a back injury, is presumed healthy but may require a cautious approach. The tryouts suggest the team is securing a reliable backup in case Gillikin suffers a recurrence.
Defensive line depth is also under pressure following news that rookie Kaleb Proctor will miss a significant amount of time with a knee injury. While the severity of Proctor’s condition remains undetailed, the Cardinals may need to place him on injured reserve, which would free up a roster spot. Any new signings must be balanced by cutting an existing player or placing someone on a reserve list to comply with NFL roster limits.
