GLENDALE, Ariz. – The giant Tom Brady banner that hangs off a lighthouse overlooking Gillette Stadium won’t be there when the Patriots play their first home game next weekend against Miami. According to Patriots president Jonathan Kraft, the banner and Brady’s numbers, which have been up for a week, will come down once the Pats kick off their season against the Arizona Cardinals

“We wanted to do something just to symbolize him because we are a family and he wasn’t going to be with us for the start of the family,” Kraft told the 98.5 pregame show. “For that window of time, from the end of the preseason till today, we wanted to symbolize the fact that he’s very much on everyone’s mind and we love him.

“Tonight, when the game kicks off at 8:30, there’s a construction crew that’s assembled down at Gillette and once the game kicks off and the season starts, the banner and the numbers will come down because Tom would be the last person… would want anything to take away once the game’s have started. This was a way to let everyone know that everybody loves him and has his back and we feel don’t feel he was treated fairly.”

Malcolm Mitchell active vs. the Cardinals

We already knew Rob Gronkowski, Jonathan Cooper and Nate Solder would be out in tonight's game, but the Patriots also made Elandon Roberts, Eric Rowe, D.J. Foster and Clay Harbor inactive against the Cardinals.

The biggest surprise out of the last four inactive players is Harbor. This means the Patriots will play tonight with two true tight ends in Martellus Bennett and AJ Derby. Rowe was recently acquired so he'll need more time before making his Patriots debut. Rookies Roberts and Foster will have to wait before they make their NFL debuts.

Trey Flowers (shoulder), Shea McClellin (shoulder) and Malcolm Mitchell (elbow) were all limited in practice this past week, but are active for Patriots. Flowers and McClellin worked out for the Patriots trainers before the game.

Mitchell’s case is the most impressive. The rookie suffered a gruesome dislocated elbow in the first preseason game against New Orleans, on Aug. 11. The timetable on Mitchell’s return was thought to be around a month and by all accounts, the rookie wide receiver healed quickly.

Roger Goodell says the NFL got Deflategate right

Roger Goodell says he doesn’t have any hesitations when it comes to the way Deflategate played out and ended. The NFL Commissioner made an appearance on Today with Matt Lauer, who asked Goodell if he thought he got Deflategate 100 percent right.

"Yes, because we went through a very exhausting process with this," Goodell said. "We had an independent investigation. We had a federal judge who ruled against it. It went to an appellate court. The appellate court at that point in time said, ‘Listen, there’s compelling, if not overwhelming evidence here. There’s absolutely no question that the destruction of evidence should be considered by the commissioner in the context of this, and that the process was properly followed.’ We collectively bargained the process for discipline. We went through that, and I can’t think of an issue that’s been more litigated by the way."

Brady’s four-game suspension started last weekend. The quarterback will return in Week Five. Goodell was also asked about suspending one of the greatest players in the NFL.

"With all due respect, every player, every team is subject to the same rules," Goodell said. "We don’t have rules for marquee players, and we don’t have rules for marquee teams."

Welcome to the University of Phoenix Stadium

Welcome to the University of Phoenix Stadium where the Patriots will open up the season against the Arizona Cardinals.

Among the biggest storylines leading up to this Week One matchup is who will and won’t be on the field for the Patriots. The Patriots knew they would be without Tom Brady to start this NFL season, but little did anyone know how shorthanded this team would be when they kicked off in Arizona on Sunday night.

Playing shorthanded is an understatement when you’re already without Brady, but the Patriots flew into Phoenix on Friday without Rob Gronkowski, Nate Solder and Jonathan Cooper.

The three absences were surprising. Since the Patriots had perfect attendance at their last four practices, the thought was that the team was getting healthy at the right time. And since, Gronkowski, Solder and Cooper all talked to the media last week, it was expected all three would be out there in Arizona.

Little did anyone know that Jimmy Garoppolo’s first career NFL start would be without his No. 1 option, his top tackle and projected starting right guard.

Losing Gronkowski for the season opener is a blow, but his absence is understandable. The tight end suffered a hamstring injury on Aug. 15 and is still limited by it almost a month later. There’s no sense in rushing back your star player for the first game of the season – even with a young, inexperienced quarterback.

It wouldn’t be surprising if the Patriots likely had foresight with Gronkowski’s injury status. If they did, the team certainly planned for it by keeping three additional tight ends on the 53-man roster with Martellus Bennett, AJ Derby and Clay Harbor.

The Patriots already knew they would be without starting right tackle Sebastian Vollmer, who is on the physically unable to perform list, but the injury to Solder is a big disappointment. The left tackle also suffered a hamstring injury, but his came in the final preseason game against the New York Giants. Although Solder never missed a practice, it’s clear the Patriots are being cautious.

This injury puts more pressure on Marcus Cannon, originally the top backup, to step up and lead a young offensive line. In Solder’s place, we’ll see either Cameron Fleming or veteran LaAdrian Waddle.

Cooper’s absence isn’t surprising. The guard went down with a foot injury and was carted off the practice field during the third day of training camp on July 30. He then missed most of the summer’s sessions, including all four preseason games. Early on, it looked like Cooper had the inside track at right guard. He started with the first team in OTAs, minicamp and for the start of camp.

The Patriots could use Shaq Mason, who’s been limited with a broken hand, or rookie Ted Karras at right guard.

Here are the links to our pregame coverage:

Ex-QBs say Jimmy G should be ready to lead

Patriots-Cardinals Key Matchup: Chandler Jones relishes chance to face old team

Jim Donaldson: It's go time for Garoppolo in Patriots' opener

Five Patriots to watch as 2016 season debuts