When Lance Anderson joined then-head coach Jim Harbaugh in coming to Stanford from San Diego in 2007, he was amazed at how many players on the roster were injured.

“We had them out in the stadium, and — wow — half the team was out,” he said.

With each passing year, the team got better — or perhaps luckier — at keeping players healthy. “It was kind of what we hung our hat on,” said Anderson, who has been the defensive coordinator the past five years.

That trend changed dramatically in 2018. In last year’s spring game, there was just one healthy quarterback, walk-on Jack Richardson.

This time around, the quarterback group is relatively healthy, but it’s the exception on a team again riddled by surgeries, rehab periods and more recent injuries. As a result, the Cardinal & White Spring Game at 1 p.m. Saturday at Cagan Stadium may be curtailed somewhat because of the slim roster.

“We’ll still scrimmage, still go live,” head coach David Shaw said. “Maybe not as much as we have in the past, just for health reasons.”

Cardinal & White Spring Game Where: Cagan Stadium When: 1 p.m. TV: P12Net Note: Stanford’s annual spring sports festival, Cardinalpalooza, also includes softball at 3 p.m., beach volleyball at 5 p.m., baseball at 7 p.m. and men’s volleyball (an MPSF Tournament quarterfinal against BYU) at 7 p.m.. Admission to the spring game, plus an autograph session afterward, and beach volleyball are free. There’s even a petting zoo.

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At the moment, the Cardinal have only five healthy offensive linemen, so if anybody gets hurt Saturday, tight end Tucker Fisk may be called on as a stopgap. Plus, there are only four or five healthy defensive backs.

Fans will see K.J. Costello throwing to wide receivers Connor Wedington and Michael Wilson and tight end Colby Parkinson. But Cameron Scarlett, the presumptive starting tailback after the departure of Bryce Love, is out while he recovers from an injury. Dorian Maddox and Trevor Speights will handle much of the ball carrying in the spring game.

Among the people to watch on defense: linemen Thomas Booker, outside linebacker Casey Toohill, cornerbacks Paulson Adebo and Obi Eboh and safety Malik Antoine.

The many missing include offensive linemen Walker Little and Devery Hamilton, wide receiver Osiris St. Brown and outside linebacker Jordan Fox.

As a result of the injuries, there hasn’t been a lot of 11-on-11 scrimmaging this spring. The emphasis has been on technique and one-on-one tackling drills.

In the spring game, Shaw said, “I want to see execution. I want to see guys playing fast and playing physical. We’re not necessarily doing (the spring game) to put on a show. We’re doing it to have guys compete.”

Costello will play “at least half” the plays, Shaw said, with Jack West and Richardson splitting most of the other snaps.

One position that bears scrutiny is the inside linebackers. Leading tackler Bobby Okereke is off to the NFL, and the other starter, Sean Barton, retired from football.

Anderson said he’s “really excited” about freshmen Jacob Mangum-Farrar and Ricky Miezan. “How soon they’ll be able to handle everything, we don’t know. But they have all the physical talent you look for in inside backers.”

Rising senior Curtis Robinson, a former outside linebacker, may have the edge at the position because of his experience. Another candidate is former safety Andrew Pryts, who will be a redshirt junior.

Other players have been making major strides this spring. Dalyn Wade-Perry may become known for more than his unusual jersey number (for a tackle): 24.

“We’ve always had high expectations for him,” Anderson said. “He hasn’t quite reached those yet, but he’s on the right trajectory right now.”

Outside linebackers Tobe Umerah and Andres Fox “bring some athleticism, some length, some pass-rush ability,” Anderson said.

While the secondary has been beaten up, J.J. Parson, who will be a redshirt junior, “has taken advantage of this opportunity,” Anderson said. “He’s going to find a role for himself because he’s had a really good spring.”

Tom FitzGerald is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tfitzgerald@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @tomgfitzgerald