The Arizona Cardinals are one step closer to the regular season following their ugly preseason loss to the Denver Broncos on Saturday.
For a handful of Cardinals looking to improve or solidify their standing on the roster, the 27-7 loss marked another chance to do just that.
That includes 2025 seventh-round pick and safety Kitan Crawford, who got the starting nod on Saturday.
After showing off his ball skills with an interception in last week’s win over the Kansas City Chiefs, Crawford turned in another strong showing.
Pacing the team for most of the night with six tackles, Crawford brought the intensity from the jump.
Crawford’s biggest positive coming out of the draft centered around his abilities as a special teamer.
Proving he can get it done defensively makes his case that much more solid, especially given his competition.
With 53-man roster spots limited on the backend, the final safety spot on the team is likely coming down to Crawford or Joey Blount.
Blount has been a proven special teams ace for the Cardinals in recent seasons but appears to be losing his grip on a roster spot with every Crawford positive.
Head coach Jonathan Gannon weighs games more than joint and regular practices. Getting it done on the main stage typically means more opportunities.
“The greatest form of learning are game reps,” the head coach told reporters after the Denver loss. “It’s one thing to be technically sound in practice. It’s another thing to be technically sound in games.”
Who else improved their chances at making the Cardinals’ 53-man roster?
Crawford wasn’t the only Cardinal fighting for a roster spot who improved his stock on Saturday, either.
After moving past a quad injury picked up during training camp, wide receiver Simi Fehoko had a solid showing in Denver.
Highlighted by his 16-yard touchdown in the first quarter, Fehoko reeled in a pair of catches for 21 yards.
Simi Fehoko and the @azcardinals answer back
Watch on @NFLNetwork
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/L6BV5wueVc— NFL (@NFL) August 17, 2025
On top of his play as a receiver, Fehoko has proven his abilities on special teams. He also brought some noticeable energy early on.
With the preseason slate waning, it’s looking like a two-man battle for the final roster spot in the wide receivers room between Fehoko and second-year pro Tejhaun Palmer.
Palmer, on the other hand, didn’t do himself any favors behind an early drop.
Arizona’s preseason finale will likely determine who makes the cut.
More tape for Will Johnson, Denzel Burke to learn from
Cardinals rookie Will Johnson marked one of the only projected starters that played on Saturday against the Broncos. Inside linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither was the other.
Johnson had a solid chasedown of tight end Evan Engram but was again dinged with a penalty — this time a holding call.
That marks two in two abbreviated games after being flagged for defensive pass interference last week.
“This is kind of a snap judgement, but we’re fouling too much,” Gannon said. “That’s happening in practice and then what you do in practice is going to show up in the games. We gotta make sure we play with better fundamentals when we’re covering people. I think all our corners need better technique and keep their hands down.”
After wowing throughout training camp, Johnson has experienced some growing pains this preseason.
Better to get them out of the way now before the bullets turn live.
“It’s good to get him lathered up and playing,” Gannon said of Johnson.
Fellow rookie Denzel Burke, meanwhile, had a decent showing in Denver.
While he watched Troy Franklin reel in a touchdown over him, Burke had a couple of pass breakups and looked faster on the field than he had previously. A good sign that things could be slowing down for the 2025 fifth-round pick.
He’s trending toward landing one of the final roster spots in the CBs room. Saturday’s showing helps that narrative.
Speaking of final roster spots in the room, Elijah Jones added a late highlight in the form of a forced fumble in the red zone.
Cardinals recover the fumble in the end zone!
Watch on @NFLNetwork
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/eGhm7oYLU4— NFL (@NFL) August 17, 2025
The 2024 third-rounder and Darren Hall are in a tight battle for what could be the last spot in the room.
QB2 battle? What QB2 battle?
Before we even got to the preseason, Jacoby Brissett’s role as QB2 looked real safe.
Two exhibitions down, and there’s no change in that feeling.
Completing six of his eight passes for 57 yards and the touchdown strike to Fehoko, Brissett has looked sharp running offensive coordinator Drew Petzing’s scheme.
“I thought he operated well,” Gannon said of Brissett. “We have to do a better job at catching the ball. That’s a fundamental I think. I liked the drive that he led for the touchdown. That was good.”
As for Clayton Tune, the third-year pro is very much in danger of being a 53-man roster cut. There’s just too much depth at other positions to warrant carrying three signal callers.
He’s likely headed for Arizona’s practice squad unless something drastic happens.
Hayden Conner gets the starting nod at center
Hayden Conner has come a long way in less than a month.
Seeing three botched snaps during a July 28 training camp practice, Conner has rebounded in a big way.
Not only did he see game reps late in last week’s win over Kansas City, the rookie got the starting nod against Denver.
That’s great news in terms of Conner’s standing on the roster.
What isn’t was the knee injury that came a few plays into the evening.
Quickly ruled out with the issue, Conner gave way to Sincere Haynesworth.
Jon Gaines II, who has served as Arizona’s backup center in the past but is still working his way back from a thumb injury, got the start at right guard.
“He can’t snap right now,” Gannon said postgame when asked about Gaines not sliding over to center.
