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.