The Arizona Cardinals have decided to release veteran quarterback Desmond Ridder as the team initiates their 53-man roster cuts, according to NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport. This decision to retain backup Clayton Tune behind starter Kyler Murray follows the Cardinals’ 38-12 defeat to the Denver Broncos in their preseason finale.
Ridder had his most impressive performance as a Cardinal during the game in Denver, where he completed 10 of 16 passes for 111 yards and achieved a QBR of 83.1. He also ran for 25 yards on two carries. However, his day ended poorly when he exited the game in the fourth quarter after sustaining a hit and later entered the concussion protocol. Head coach Jonathan Gannon confirmed on Monday that Ridder has cleared the protocol since then.
Leading up to Sunday’s game, Ridder had completed 10 of 19 passes for 114 yards in Arizona’s earlier preseason games.
Ridder joined the Cardinals through an offseason trade with the Atlanta Falcons, in exchange for wide receiver Rondale Moore. Initially, it seemed he had a solid chance at securing the QB2 spot heading into training camp. However, his performance was marred by inconsistencies and turnovers, particularly during joint practices with the Indianapolis Colts, allowing Clayton Tune to step into the backup role.
Tune showed significant improvement during the offseason, particularly towards the end of training camp and throughout the preseason. Despite his growth, he struggled with decisive play during the loss to the Broncos, which contributed to him being sacked three times during the game. Overall, he faced eight sacks across the preseason, suggesting that while the offensive line had its issues, he could have mitigated some damage with better decision-making.
Nonetheless, Tune’s performance appears to have earned him a place on the roster, as he amassed 361 passing yards, with one touchdown and one interception on 35 completions from 52 attempts across three preseason games.
While Tune’s position seems secure for the moment, the Cardinals may consider bringing in additional talent after the 53-man roster cut deadline on Tuesday. Last year at this time, general manager Monti Ossenfort acquired quarterback Josh Dobbs from the Cleveland Browns while Murray was recovering from a torn ACL. Dobbs went on to start eight games for the Cardinals before being traded to the Minnesota Vikings.
The situation is different this year, as Murray is fully recovered, but the option to acquire another quarterback remains open if the Cardinals see a fit.