Zach Wilson invigorated the Denver Broncos’ offense with a 21-yard scramble and a 46-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Johnson, leading the team to an impressive 38-12 victory over the Arizona Cardinals, completing an undefeated preseason on Sunday.
Starting quarterback Jarrett Stidham led the Broncos (3-0) on a touchdown drive that concluded with a 3-yard score from rookie running back Audric Estime during his lone possession before ceding the field to newly appointed starter Bo Nix. Wilson took full advantage of his extended playtime, showcasing his capabilities.
Wilson, who was the second overall pick by the Jets in 2021, demonstrated his experience with 33 career NFL starts as he orchestrated an 11-play, 77-yard touchdown drive, highlighted by a remarkable scramble from his own 13-yard line on a second-and-20 play. He capped the drive with a 1-yard touchdown pass to tight end Nate Atkins, extending Denver’s lead to 14-0.
Later in the game, Wilson’s 1-yard rushing touchdown completed an 88-yard drive, putting the Broncos ahead 24-6 in the third quarter. He then connected with Johnson for a 46-yard touchdown pass with just over six minutes left in the game.
Wilson concluded the day completing 16 of 25 passes for 251 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions.
Broncos head coach Sean Payton expressed a desire to retain all three quarterbacks on the team’s 53-man roster, though that may hinge on Stidham agreeing to a pay cut from his $5 million salary.
For the Cardinals (0-3), Clayton Tune and Desmond Ridder shared quarterback duties in their final attempt to secure a backup role behind Kyler Murray. Tune finished with 12 completions on 18 attempts for 119 yards, with one interception and two sacks. Ridder took over as Tune exited the game for a medical evaluation, completing 10 of 16 passes for 111 yards. However, upon returning, Tune threw an interception that linebacker Levelle Bailey returned 96 yards for a touchdown.
Denver defensive back Kedron Smith notched his third takeaway of the preseason, recovering a fumble by Tony Jones Jr. at the Denver 3-yard line. Unfortunately, Jones sustained a shoulder injury on the play.
Matt Prater added a 50-yard field goal just before halftime, bringing the score to 14-3, and later kicked a 24-yarder. Arizona’s only touchdown came in the fourth quarter from Haassan Hall’s 3-yard run, narrowing the gap to 24-12, though the subsequent two-point conversion attempt failed.
In terms of injuries, Denver’s Damarri Mathis, who started 17 games over the previous two seasons, suffered a right ankle injury on the second play of the game and was carted off the field. Broncos linebacker Durell Nchami also exited due to a pulled hamstring. For the Cardinals, cornerbacks Divaad Wilson (wrist), Elijah Jones (ankle), and Darren Hall (hip) were injured, as well as tight end Sage Surratt (ankle) in the third quarter. Offensive lineman Christian Jones was carted off late in the game with an unspecified injury.
Looking ahead, the Cardinals will kick off their regular season on September 8 against Buffalo, while the Seahawks will face off that same day in Seattle.