In the Arizona Cardinals 38-12 preseason loss to the Denver Broncos Sunday, there were 22 players that participated in at least one of the 70 offensive snaps.
The first number after each name is snaps and the second is the percentage. Players in bold were starters.
Quarterbacks
Clayton Tune 39/56, Desmond Ridder 31/44
Did not play: Kyler Murray
The competition between Tune and Ridder to be the backup to Murray is close, although it is believed Tune has the edge. He completed 11 of 17 passes for 119 yards in the first half, while Ridder was 10-for-16 for 111 yards in the second half until he left the game late in the fourth quarter and entered concussion protocol. Tune entered the game and had an interception on his first play that was returned 94 yards for a touchdown. On that play, his passer rating plummeted from 90.1 to 62.0.
Ridder’s rating was 83.1, and he had a 27-yard run. The question to be determined is whether the Cardinals will keep both on the roster or place one on waivers hoping to sign whoever it is to the practice squad.
Running backs
Hassan Hall 52/74, Tony Jones Jr. 18/26
Did not play: Trey Benson, Michael Carter, James Conner, DeeJay Dallas (played only on special teams), Emari Demercado (played only on special teams)
The plan surely was not to play Hall for that many snaps, but that happened because Jones suffered a shoulder injury after rushing for 29 yards on seven carries and added 14 yards on two receptions. Hall was signed 12 days before Sunday’s game. He scored the team’s only touchdown in the game and had 19 rushes for 59 yards (3.1 average) and had four receptions on four targets for 28 yards.
Wide receivers
Tejhaun Palmer 59/84, Daylen Baldwin 47/67, Andre Baccellia 39/56, Xavier Weaver 12/17, Chris Moore 11/16, Zach Pascal 10/14
Did not play: Dan Chisena, Greg Dortch, Marvin Harrison Jr., Zay Jones, Michael Wilson
Weaver continued to make plays with two receptions for 56 yards, including one for 43 yards. Palmer could be a candidate for the practice squad and caught two of six target for 23 yards with a 21-yard play. Baccellia (3-31) has been on and off the practice squad in previous seasons and that might be his fate again.
Tight ends
Blake Whiteheart 58/83, Bernhard Seikovits 40/57, Sage Surratt 4/6
Did not play: Elijah Higgins, Trey McBride, Tip Reiman, Travis Vokolek
Whiteheart was mostly on the practice squad as a rookie last season and tied for the team lead with four receptions (on six targets) for 35 yards. Seikovits is expected to be the 17th player on the practice squad as the team’s international player and had two receptions for 18 yards.
Offensive linemen
RT Christian Jones 63/90, LG Isaiah Adams 48/69, G Marquis Hayes Jr. 48/69, T Jackson Barton 45/64, C Keith Ismael 38/54, RG Jon Gaines II 32/46, T Austen Pleasants 32/46, C Trystan Colon 22/31, LG Elijah Wilkinson 22/31
Did not play: T Kelvin Beachum, G/C Evan Brown, C Hjalte Froholdt, G Will Hernandez, T Paris Johnson Jr., T Jonah Williams
Jones, who was penalty-free after being flagged for four holding penalties the week before, left the field in the fourth quarter on a cart on the same play in which Ridder suffered a concussion. He had an MRI Monday morning. Ridder was hit on the play and crashed into Jones. All the linemen that played are vying for roster spots behind the six that did not play.
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