Zach Wilson ignited a touchdown drive with a 21-yard run and threw a 46-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Johnson as the Denver Broncos completed an undefeated preseason with a decisive 38-12 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.
Jarrett Stidham began the game for the Broncos (3-0) and led a touchdown drive that concluded with rookie running back Audric Estime scoring on a 3-yard run during his only series. Stidham then took a seat alongside newly designated starter Bo Nix, allowing Wilson to take center stage with significant playing time.
Wilson, once the second overall pick by the New York Jets in 2021, utilized his 33 NFL starts to guide an impressive 11-play, 77-yard touchdown drive. This included a notable scramble from the Broncos’ 13-yard line on a second-and-20 play. He capped that drive with a 1-yard touchdown pass to tight end Nate Atkins, extending Denver’s lead to 14-0.
In the third quarter, Wilson completed another solid drive with a 1-yard keeper, concluding an 88-yard march that made the score 24-6. He further showcased his skills by connecting with Johnson for a 46-yard touchdown pass with just over six minutes left in the game.
Wilson’s performance included 16 completions on 25 attempts for 251 yards, with two touchdowns and no interceptions.
Broncos head coach Sean Payton expressed a desire to keep all three quarterbacks, including Stidham, on the 53-man roster, although this may hinge on Stidham agreeing to a salary reduction from his $5 million contract.
In Arizona, Clayton Tune and Desmond Ridder battled for the opportunity to back up Kyler Murray, who will start the season sidelined due to injury. Tune completed 12 of 18 passes for 119 yards, with one interception and two sacks. Ridder stepped in for Tune, going 10 of 16 for 111 yards before Tune returned to throw an interception that linebacker Levelle Bailey returned for a 96-yard touchdown.
Denver’s defensive back Kedron Smith added to his preseason impact with his third takeaway, recovering a fumble by Tony Jones Jr. at Denver’s 3-yard line. Jones left the game due to a shoulder injury.
Matt Prater scored a 50-yard field goal as the first half concluded, reducing the deficit to 14-3. He also added a 24-yarder before Arizona’s only touchdown came from Haassan Hall’s 3-yard run in the fourth quarter, making it 24-12; however, the subsequent 2-point conversion attempt failed.
Injury Report
Denver’s defensive back Damarri Mathis injured his right ankle during a tackle on the game’s second play and had to be carted off the field. Linebacker Durell Nchami exited with a pulled hamstring. For the Cardinals, cornerbacks Divaad Wilson (wrist), Elijah Jones (ankle), and Darren Hall (hip) suffered injuries, along with tight end Sage Surratt (ankle) who left in the third quarter. Offensive lineman Christian Jones was also carted off in the final minutes due to an undisclosed injury.
Next Games
The Cardinals will kick off the regular season on September 8 against the Buffalo Bills, while the Broncos will face the Seattle Seahawks on the same day.