
Arizona Cardinals play only 2 defensive starters in preseason game vs. Broncos
Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton revealed on Thursday, following the joint practice they had with the Arizona Cardinals, that neither team would play its starters in the preseason matchup on Saturday, "save for a few."
The Cardinals held true to that.
In the 27-7 loss to the Broncos, the Cardinals did not play a single offensive starter. On defense, though, they had two "starters" get action early in the game. Those two players were rookie cornerback Will Johnson, their second-round draft pick this year, and linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither. Davis-Gaither was signed in free agency this offseason.
Johnson and Davis both came out by the end of the first quarter.
Davis-Gaither had a tackle in the game. Johnson also had a tackle and was flagged for defensive holding.
Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
20 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Broncos' 2024 draft pick looks like a sure cut ahead of final preseason game
Broncos' 2024 draft pick looks like a sure cut ahead of final preseason game originally appeared on The Sporting News Before training camp started for the Denver Broncos, almost everyone would have had running back Audric Estime as a sure bet to make this year's team. But with six running backs on the current roster, he has likely fallen to the last spot on the depth chart. The Broncos used their second-round pick on RJ Harvey before signing J.K. Dobbins in free agency. That pushed Estime down the depth chart, but he hasn't performed well this summer and has seemingly fallen behind the other three running backs — Jaleel McLaughlin, Tyler Badie and Blake Watson. It now looks like close to a sure thing that he will be left off the 53-man roster. and some of that could be due to a poor work ethic and attitude. Consider what former Broncos running back Phillip Lindsay had to say on his show, "The Drive" on Denver Sports 104.3 The Fan. Estime was a fifth-round pick by the Broncos in 2024 and is still just 21 years old. It seems like he has some strides to make as a professional and is not ready to be part of a team coached by Sean Payton. He will get one more preseason game to show that he should still have a chance to stick around, but it's hard to see the Broncos cutting any of the other running backs in favor of him based on what he have seen this preseason. READ:Broncos predicted to make huge WR splash in free agency in 2026 The team could bring him back as part of the practice squad if he clears waivers, but there is a decent chance another team would claim him before they have a chance. MORE BRONCOS CONTENT Broncos sign fullback who began his career in Denver, place Nick Gargiulo on IR 4 Broncos players who should be worried about their roster spot ahead of second preseason game Broncos encouraged to cut productive third-year star before season starts Bo Nix's status with Broncos put into question with startling bold prediction by ESPN Record-breaking former Broncos wide receiver passes away at age 89


New York Post
21 minutes ago
- New York Post
Yankees' Paul Goldschmidt delivers ‘classic' performance after avoiding IL stint
Access the Yankees beat like never before Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Greg Joyce about the inside buzz on the Yankees. Try it free ST. LOUIS — In case there were any concerns with how Paul Goldschmidt's sprained knee would affect his hitting, he answered them with each passing hit Sunday afternoon. Making his first start since injuring his right knee last Tuesday, Goldschmidt put together a three-hit game with a pair of doubles to help send the Yankees to an 8-4 win over the Cardinals at Busch Stadium. 'Obviously for us to get the win, for me to get a couple hits, it was good,' Goldschmidt said. 'I tried not to, but definitely it was a little bit in the back of my mind. But you just go play. I knew there was no extra added risk to playing. So just go play and try to play well.' Paul Goldschmidt doubles during the Yankees' win against the Cardinals on Aug. 17. AP Goldschmidt had entered Friday's game as a defensive replacement at first base, which manager Aaron Boone later said he was even a little reluctant to do — after the Yankees initially feared this was something that was going to land the 37-year-old on the injured list. But by Sunday, he was cleared to return to the lineup and made his impact felt. 'I really wasn't worried about the knee,' he said. 'But there's this weird subconscious when you had hurt something or your body maybe wants to test it out a little bit. I'd hit fine, I'd done defense, but to get out there and play nine, it was good. I wouldn't have told Booney and them I was ready if I thought I was going to jeopardize our team or even myself.' Paul Goldschmidt acknowledges the crowd during the Yankees' game against the Cardinals on Aug. 17. Getty Images Goldschmidt, the ex-Cardinal who received a standing ovation before his first at-bat in his first start back at Busch Stadium, doubled in the fourth inning to key a three-run rally and later added another double in the ninth that drove in an insurance run. 'That's classic Goldie right there,' Boone said. 'He flashed it today.' After starting 46 straight games, Anthony Volpe got a breather Sunday as José Caballero stepped in at shortstop. CHECK OUT THE LATEST MLB STANDINGS AND YANKEES STATS Volpe eventually entered the game in the ninth inning as a pinch runner for Giancarlo Stanton, scored a run and then played shortstop in the bottom of the frame. Volpe, who has typically responded well to the rare days off he has gotten in his career, was stuck in a 7-for-47 (.149) skid over his past 13 games before Sunday. Jonathan Loáisiga (mid-back tightness) began a rehab assignment Sunday with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, throwing 16 pitches in a scoreless inning. … Fernando Cruz (oblique strain) made his second rehab appearance in that game, giving up two runs in an inning while throwing 20 pitches. … Amed Rosario (SC joint sprain) got pregame defensive work Sunday and is expected to be activated off the injured list Tuesday, when first eligible. Go beyond the box score with the Bombers Sign up for Inside the Yankees by Greg Joyce, exclusively on Sports+. Thank you Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! Check out more newsletters Director of catching Tanner Swanson was ejected in the fourth inning by third base umpire Vic Carapazza. Multiple Yankees were barking about a called third strike to Trent Grisham, and eventually Cardinals pitcher Miles Mikolas stepped off the mound and pointed while walking toward the Yankees dugout, at which point Carapazza tossed Swanson.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Are Yankees' struggles over after 2 months? Here's their take on 5-1 surge
ST. LOUIS — Yankees manager Aaron Boone says he likes it when he can walk into the clubhouse after a game and not tell if his team just won or lost. Other than the music and Jazz Chisholm sipping on a bottle of beer, the mood was tempered Sunday after the Yankees rallied late for an 8-4 victory to sweep three from the Cardinals and make it five out of six counting last week's series win over the Twins in New York. This last week probably was more of a relief than satisfying for the Yankees, who realize two good series doesn't make up for damage in the standings caused while they were losing 31 of 51 games from June 13 to Aug. 10. 'Look, I think we know we're a good team,' Boone said. 'We believed that even through some of the down times and some dark moments of the season. I don't think we've ever lost that confidence. So we're capable of this. We got to go prove it though.' They're hoping this past week was a start to proving it, but they know they'll probably need a long stretch of winning baseball to repeat as AL East champs, which remains their No. 1 regular-season goal. With 38 games to play, the Yankees still are third in the division, but they gained ground on both teams ahead of them on Sunday, pulling to 5 ½ games behind the first-place Blue Jays and a half-game of the second-place Red Sox. The Yankees also stretched their lead over the Guardians for the third AL wild-card spot to 3 ½ games. 'We've been saying it all year, when we play like we're supposed to play like these are the results you're going to get,' rookie right-hander Will Warren said after his 4 2/3-inning, 3-run no-decision. 'We've been staying with the process. We haven't strayed from anything we've done. 'Just head down, keep going and we're starting to win again.' The Yankees had some help on Sunday. After scoring a seventh-inning run to make it a 4-4 game, they scored four in the ninth on only one hit thanks to two very costly errors by Cardinals second baseman Thomas Saggese. His throwing error on Jose Caballero's leadoff chopper gave the Yankees a runner on second base with nobody out and his boot on Cody Bellinger's bases-loaded, one-out grounder scored two to put the Yankees ahead 6-4. 'The value of putting the ball in play there at the end and taking advantage of mistakes … it was a good way to finish it off going into the off day,' Boone said. The Yankees have Monday off in Tampa, then play the Rays two games at their spring training ballpark before returning to New York for four big ones against the Red Sox and then three with the Nationals. The Yankees are optimistic that their worst of times finally are over. 'When I got here, the boys were down a little bit,' said third baseman Ryan McMahon, who was traded by the Rockies to the Yankees in late July. 'You could feel it. But we're picking up play and it's all about momentum in this game.' The Yankees felt like they had a lot of momentum winning five in a row from July 6 to July 11, but that led into a lot more struggles, nine wins in their next 24. 'We've got a long way to go in this and it's always really good getting a sweep, but we've got to keep going,' Boone said. 'We're not a finished product yet. We know we're capable of a lot, but we got a ways to go.' The Yankees still want to repeat as division champs, then get back to the World Series and this time win it. This past week were baby steps that may or may not be the start of an extended surge after a couple months of serious underachieving. 'I hope so,' first baseman Paul Goldschmidt said after a three-hit game. 'These last six weeks will tell. Obviously this is a good week for us to win five out of six games, but there's a lot of tough opponents coming up. We'll try to play well and keep going.' Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription. Randy Miller may be reached at rmiller@