Players to watch in Cardinals’ preseason opener vs. Broncos
The Arizona Cardinals open the preseason Friday night at State Farm Stadium against the Denver Broncos. While the result of the game won’t necessarily matter, individual play does because it will factor into battles for starting jobs, rotational roles and spots on the roster.
In Friday’s game against the Broncos, who are the Cardinals to watch?
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C Hjalte Froholdt
OL Paris Johnson
Johnson, the Cardinals’ first-round pick, appears to be on track to be their starting right tackle.
Game action showing him playing well would be right what is needed to be seen.
QB Colt McCoy
McCoy probably won’t be in for long, but since he is on track to begin the season as the starting quarterback until Kyler Murray returns, it would be good to simply see him working efficiently and effectively.
QB Clayton Tune
Tune is a rookie, drafted in the fifth round and he appears set to be the backup QB until Murray’s return.
Can he show potential against NFL talent? Perhaps he can show out and potentially push McCoy for the main backup job.
RBs Ty'Son Williams, Emari Demercado
James Conner might play a little. Marlon Mack tore his Achilles. Keaontay Ingram isn’t back from his undisclosed injury.
Williams and Demercado can push for either a roster spot or even push for the No. 2 role.
The entire D-line
Let’s face it. We don’t know what to expect with the defensive line. Anybody showing anything promising would be a huge thing.
LB Zaven Collins
Collins has moved to the edge as a pass rusher full time. We need to see some push on passing downs and strength at setting the edge other times. He is on track to start. He needs to show he can hold that role.
The ILBs not named Kyzir White
White is going to be the main guy at linebacker.
Josh Woods and Krys Barnes are battling for the other starting job. Hopefully one stands out.
Also, rookie Owen Pappoe could push with his athletic play.
S Isaiah Simmons
Again, the starters likely won’t play long but Simmons is in a new full-time position. How will he look?
All the CBs
Marco Wilson is CB1 by default it seems. Christian Matthew and rookie Kei’Trel Clark have been splitting first-team snaps in practice but Antonio Hamilton is atop the depth chart.
The Cardinals need to see someone make plays and move ahead of the group.
Punters Nolan Cooney, Matt Haack
One wouldn’t think that Cooney and Haack would be in a battle, but it appears the coaches are giving it that look.
See how both perform in the punting game and how they do as holders for kicker Matt Prater.
