The Arizona Cardinals have decided to part ways with veteran quarterback Desmond Ridder as they finalize their 53-man roster cuts, according to NFL Network analyst Ian Rapoport.
This decision comes after the Cardinals suffered a 38-12 defeat against the Denver Broncos in their preseason finale on Sunday. The team has chosen to retain backup Clayton Tune behind starting quarterback Kyler Murray.
Ridder had his most promising performance with the Cardinals in the game against Denver, completing 10 of 16 passes for 111 yards and achieving an 83.1 QBR. He also contributed with 25 rushing yards on two carries. However, his day ended disappointingly when he left the game in the fourth quarter after sustaining a hit and was subsequently placed in concussion protocol, which he cleared shortly after, according to head coach Jonathan Gannon.
In the preseason leading up to Sunday’s game, Ridder completed 10 of 19 passes for 114 yards over the Cardinals’ first two matchups.
Ridder joined the Cardinals earlier this offseason in a trade with the Atlanta Falcons, which saw wide receiver Rondale Moore move in the opposite direction. It seemed that Ridder had a good chance at securing the QB2 role during training camp. However, he struggled with inconsistencies and turnovers, especially during joint practices with the Indianapolis Colts, which ultimately favored Tune in the competition for the backup spot.
Tune demonstrated significant improvement during the offseason, particularly towards the end of training camp and throughout the preseason, despite facing challenges. In the loss to the Broncos, he appeared less decisive compared to previous games, contributing to three sacks against him. Overall, Tune has recorded 361 passing yards, one touchdown, and one interception on 35 completions out of 52 attempts throughout three preseason games.
While Tune seems to have earned his position as the backup quarterback for now, the Cardinals may consider signing another quarterback if an opportunity arises after the 53-man roster cuts occur on Tuesday. Last year, general manager Monti Ossenfort acquired quarterback Josh Dobbs from the Cleveland Browns while Murray was recovering from an ACL tear.
Unlike last year, the Cardinals have a fully healthy Murray, but they remain open to exploring the quarterback market if necessary.