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.

The Cardinals used their second preseason game to shine a light on the roster-building puzzle that comes with final cuts. Jacoby Brissett moved the offense smoothly in limited time, throwing three touchdowns across five possessions, signaling confidence in a reliable depth option if Kyler Murray isn’t ready. Simi Fehoko finally took the field healthy and delivered a 16-yard TD among two catches and a strong special-teams showcase, boosting his odds of a guaranteed 2025 salary securing a spot. Kicker Chad Ryland capped a strong leg with a 72-yard boom before kickoff, underscoring the team’s kicking depth even as production in the box score lagged. Rookie Will Johnson and veteran Akeem Davis-Gaither offered flashes of depth at corner and linebacker, respectively, enough to keep them in the late-cut conversation as Arizona navigates the final roster decisions against Denver’s competition. The Broncos presented a stern test, but the Cardinals found a few players who could matter in Week 1 and beyond.

In the bigger picture, the night reinforced how Arizona will lean on its depth chart: Brissett stabilizes the quarterback room; Fehoko provides a multi-faceted threat on offense and special teams; Ryland’s leg strength hints at a potential long-range option; Johnson and Davis-Gaither add needed versatility and speed to the defense. With cuts approaching, those performances carry more weight than the final score in a 27-7 loss where the Cards’ defense allowed 562 yards while the offense managed only 135 tallies.

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.