The Arizona Cardinals rookies continue to develop as the preseason rolls on
Fans of the Arizona Cardinals got to see a little of the team’s starters on Saturday night. The first team offense drove down the field for a touchdown, and the defense did their job, keeping the Oakland Raiders out of the endzone. It was good to see for those hoping for a bounce back from the 2016 season.
Still, the second game of the Cardinals preseason was more about the backups and rookies than about the starters. They were, naturally, given the bulk of the work.
Once again, defensive back Budda Baker was active on defense. He was second on the team in tackles, with five, and was solid in coverage. He did draw a flag for defensive pass interference in the endzone that led to a touchdown. Overall, though, it was another nice outing.
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First round pick Haason Reddick didn’t quite repeat his impressive performance from last week. He had just a single tackle, and ran himself out of a few plays.
The other notable rookies on defense were Ironhead Gallon and Tre’Von Johnson, who had two tackles apiece.
The rookies on the offensive side of the ball didn’t fare a lot better. Wide receiver Chad Williams didn’t play. Neither did the electric, but injured, TJ Logan. Offensive linemen Will Holden and Dorian Johnson did play, but struggled. Holden, in particular, was flagged for holding twice.
Only two rookies recorded a positive statistic on offense. Receiver Krishawn Hogan had one catch for six yards. Running back James Summers carried the ball three times for 12 yards.
There were bright spots among the other backups and young players, and the Cardinals got the win. It was not a great week for the team’s rookie class, though. Inconsistency is expected, and there’s a good chance they’ll rebound next week.
The Cardinals will face the Chicago Bears in their third preseason game this year. It will also take place in Arizona. The starters will likely see even more time, so the rookies will have to take advantage of whatever time they get.