Arizona's offense in the second preseason game vs Denver logged 49 snaps with 25 players involved. Jacoby Brissett led a five-play opening sequence and then steered the Cardinals to their lone score — an 11-play, 67-yard drive that culminated in Simi Fehoko's 16-yard TD pass. Brissett finished that possession 5-for-5 for 49 yards and did not play again, giving way to Clayton Tune for the majority of the game.

Clayton Tune (33/67) struggled to generate big plays, compiling 56 yards on 13 completions (2.8 yards per attempt). Most of his throws were short, with two 10-yard completions to Michael Carter and DeeJay Dallas and 11 total receptions for 36 yards on shorter routes. The Cardinals leaned on the backfield mix of Carter (23/47) and Emari Demercado (20/41), totaling 29 rushing yards on 15 attempts, with Demercado valued for his pass protection. Xavier Weaver, Simi Fehoko and Tejhaun Palmer led the receiving corps, with Fehoko adding the TD and Weaver making a key 17-yard first down while also drawing attention on a potential DPI. The offensive line featured notable names like Jeremiah Byers, Sincere Haynesworth and Nick Leverett handling the majority of snaps, though the top six linemen sat out or rotated. Injuries crept in early as Conner left the game with a knee issue after the third snap, prompting Haynesworth to step in. The result was a game that highlighted depth and development for Arizona, with inconsistent yardage but growing familiarity for Tune and the receiving group ahead of the regular season.

Arizona’s depth proved costly in a lopsided Denver preseason matchup, as the Cardinals were outgained 561 yards to 135 and averaged 2.9 yards per play while the Broncos piled up 7.8. The night’s bright spot came before kickoff: Chad Ryland ripped a 72-yard attempt in mile-high air, hinting at long-range kicking capacity that could matter if regular-season conditions demand 60-plus-yard tries. On the field, Brissett flashed veteran poise guiding a scoring drive, while Clayton Tune struggled to gain traction, leaving Brissett as the more reassuring option behind Kyler Murray in the immediate terms. The rookie receivers (Palmer, Weaver) and the secondary showed rough edges, reinforcing the Cardinals’ need for growth at WR depth and defensive depth. Overall, the result underscored roster decisions looming toward Week 1, with depth pieces and special-teams candidates likely to shape the final cuts.

The Arizona Cardinals fell 27-7 to Denver in the second preseason game, a telling setback that spotlighted depth issues on a roster built around a handful of stars. Jacoby Brissett moved the offense on a short opening drive and found a groove on his second sequence, projecting a steady-handed floor if Week 1 relies on veteran leadership. Clayton Tune, by contrast, struggled to generate sustained momentum, underscoring questions about the second-string spell behind the top quarterbacks. With starters resting, the gap between Arizona’s top line and its depth showed clearly, leaving the squad hopeful that the final tune-up will yield the weekly playmakers fantasy managers crave once the real games arrive.

From a fantasy lens, Brissett’s timely rhythm suggests a viable fallback option should Kyler Murray miss time, while Tune’s rough night raises doubt about his near-term ceiling in a QB2 role. The Broncos’ efficient attack in a game where Arizona’s defense wasn’t fully tested adds another layer of risk for early-season output, reinforcing the need for unheralded Cardinals to step up. The final preseason game looms as the proving ground for the reserve group and for which players will be trusted Week 1.