Arizona Cardinals bubble watch: Players to watch against the Oakland Raiders

There has been more to this offseason than just the Blaine Gabbert talk for the Arizona Cardinals.

In the first preseason game we saw several players make a case for the 53 man roster, while several others struggled to find their footing in the first game of the preseason.

There are also a number of veterans getting healthy and getting back to the roster.

Here are four bubble players to watch in the Arizona Cardinals game against the Oakland Raiders.

Elijhaa Penny - The fans were excited about Penny coming into camp and looked good early. Yet, against the Dallas Cowboys, Penny didn’t look like the physical runner most were waiting to see.

Penny looked hesitant and unsure. He didn’t get a ton of help, but that is not unexpected in the preseason. It is a lot of working on your own.

Penny is in a fight with Andre Ellington for the fourth running back spot now that T.J. Logan is out. While the Cardinals could keep five, it seems like a waste of a roster spot.

Penny is also practice squad eligible, but if he wants a shot at the final 53, he needs to show more in the second preseason game.

Ulrick John - John is listed as the backup right tackle right now, but he’ll have to show he can be more than that. With Cole Toner entrenching himself as the backup guard/center and John Wetzel a favorite of the coaching staff, and Dorian Johnson and Will Holden draft picks, John is now the guy who is fighting for a spot. He did a nice job in game one of the preseason for the Cardinals. Can he keep it up?

Cap Capi - Capi was graded as the best player on the defense by Pro Football Focus in game one of the preseason. He was relentless, and looked a lot like Markus Golden coming off the edge. The Cardinals need backup linebackers, and while they have veterans in Jarvis Jones and Kareem Martin, that doesn’t mean a guy like Capi can’t find his way onto the roster, especially over a player like Martin.

Scooby Wright III - Wright seemed like one of the best players in camp by the reports. Then game one came and went and you saw exactly why he was drafted so late and hasn’t been able to crack a roster. He has limitations. He is not a sideline to sideline type, he is a downhill, smash mouth type of linebacker. With Philip Wheeler back and Deone Bucannon headed back to the roster, Wright has a fight on his hands. He’ll need to play better in game two.

Harlan Miller - The Cardinals invested a sixth round pick in Miller and a sixth round pick in Rudy Ford. Miller has some questions as to whether or not he can be a cornerback athletically, but he has shown to be good enough as a safety and a reliable special teams player. Yet, you can’t help but wonder if Ford is a player, who would be on this list if he was healthy to play, that the Cardinals brought in hoping to get an athletic upgrade in place of Miller.

What bubble players are you watching this weekend?