Broncos receiver Cliff Russell spent last year out of football while running his own personal-training and sports-development business in Virginia.

Russell, who figures to play extensively Friday in the Broncos' preseason finale at Arizona (8 p.m. MDT Friday, CBS 4), is on the cusp of making Denver's roster -- or not.

Nothing would surprise Russell.

He has been on injured reserve, waived, signed and waived again. And that's just through 2004.

He has played for Washington, Cincinnati, Miami and Detroit before joining the Broncos.

"As long as they keep calling you, you have to come," he said.

Russell, 29, had no designs on returning to the NFL after he was waived in September by Detroit.

"I thought it was over," he said.

But he kept in shape while running his side business. And at various points, he has run with the first- and second-team offense because of injuries.

Now it comes down to a potential phone call Saturday signaling he has made the team.

"How do I deal with it? I try not to think about it. I pray a lot. I'm a man of faith," he said. "And I just come out here trying to enjoy the opportunity."

ROYAL EAGER FOR ROLES

Eddie Royal's role in the Broncos' return game will remain unchanged, despite the rookie receiver's emergence as a starting player on offense, coach Mike Shanahan said this week.

"I'm up for the challenge. Any chance I get to make a play, I want to be out there," Royal said. "He's giving me that chance, and I have to show him he made a good decision."

Royal has had limited preseason opportunities - two kickoff returns in the Aug. 9 exhibition opener and one punt return the next week against Dallas.

But special-teams coach Scott O'Brien has said Royal has been on point in all the situational work and had a great feel for the return game during summer practices.

"I feel comfortable with the guys in front of me. We have great chemistry," Royal said. "If you look at it on film, I see the holes and where I'd be running. I can envision it all. So I think come game day it won't be any problem."

SORT OF HOMECOMING

Rookie safety Josh Barrett played his college ball at Arizona State but will be taking the field for the first time at University of Phoenix Stadium on Friday night.

"Hopefully, I'll get some family and friends out there to watch," he said.

Broncos coaches surely will keep a close eye on Barrett. The team appears set in its first three safety spots, with Marlon McCree, Marquand Manuel and Hamza Abdullah. It might come down to a decision between Barrett and Roderick Rogers for a fourth and final slot.

"I'm still kind of settling and trying to do a lot, and nothing's for certain," Barrett said. "This week's huge. I'm just going to do everything I can to make the team."

ALIVE AND KICKING

With the middle-linebacker position decided, punter remains the only starting job up for grabs.

"I do think we're making it hard on them," Sam Paulescu said of his summerlong battle with Brett Kern. "Brett's doing a great job, and I feel I've been doing a great job, too. . . . Sometimes, I wonder if they're going to flip a coin. It's hard to say. I have no answers."

Paulescu will start Friday. His three attempts in three games are two fewer than Kern, who has a 51.4-50.3 edge in gross yardage.

"I'm pretty sure they've got a good idea of who they like," Paulescu said.

Even if the players don't.

With so much at stake, will Paulescu have difficulty blocking out the fact that, come Saturday, he might be looking for work elsewhere?

"You think about it sometimes," he said. "You're human. You think about, 'Hey, what's going on?' But I don't let that get to me. I'm going to do all I can do. And I can't control any of that."

ETC.

* The Cardinals are expected to play their starters on both sides of the ball for about two series.

* Former Broncos Floyd Little and Randy Gradishar were among the 15 finalists considered by the Hall of Fame senior committee, but the two selections this year were Claude Humphrey and the late Bob Hayes.

Staff writer Jeff Legwold contributed to this report.