The Cardinals can argue all they want about who should be under center, but Saturday’s preseason loss in Dallas made the bigger problem impossible to ignore. A quarterback decision is only as good as the team built around it, and Arizona’s defense did nothing to help its case in a 34-13 defeat to the Cowboys.
With most of the starters resting, the Cardinals still got steamrolled by Dallas’ backups. The Cowboys piled up 413 total yards, 23 first downs and 34 points.
Arizona gave up 175 rushing yards on 34 carries, allowed six conversions on 10 third downs and watched Dallas finish three of six in the red zone. That kind of breakdown leaves no room to hide, no matter who is throwing the passes.
Joe Milton III was the most dangerous player on the field. Competing with Sam Howell for the backup job behind Dak Prescott, Milton went 9 of 13 for 179 yards and two touchdowns, added a rushing score and helped Dallas race to a 24-6 halftime lead. The Cowboys averaged 9.9 yards per pass attempt and 7.1 yards per play, numbers that tell the story all by themselves.
Arizona’s offense, at least, moved. Jacoby Brissett completed 19 of 23 passes for 177 yards, while two Cardinals touchdowns came off the board because of penalties on the same drive and his interception came after Simi Fehoko slipped.
The Cardinals finished with 325 total yards and held the ball for more than 30 minutes. But none of that mattered because the defense kept surrendering answers.
Head coach Mike LaFleur didn’t try to dress it up.
“It was the culmination of our week. We had a sloppy week of practice,” LaFleur said. “I don’t think we’ve practiced really well over the last week since Vegas.”
Then he made the point even more plainly.
“This, tonight, was a summary of that week in general.”
That’s the part that makes Arizona’s quarterback setup so hard to sell. The Cardinals moved on from Kyler Murray in March after seven seasons, eating about $55 million in dead salary cap space.
They brought in Brissett on a deal that guarantees him $15.5 million and can climb to $21 million with incentives. The plan was obvious: stabilize the position, avoid chaos, and lean on the rest of the roster to carry some of the load.
That works only if the rest of the roster can actually do it.
Brissett’s numbers last season were solid enough - 3,366 passing yards, 23 touchdowns and eight interceptions after he replaced Murray - but Arizona still went 1-11 in his starts. That record wasn’t all on him, and that’s exactly the point.
A veteran quarterback can keep things steady, protect the football and give you a chance. He can’t be expected to rescue a team when the defense is giving up 24 points in a half.
Minshew showed the same kind of stopgap value. He finished 19 of 23 for 177 yards, and the offense had moments of rhythm.
But that’s insurance, not salvation. Neither Brissett nor Minshew is built to compensate for a defense that leaks yards and touchdowns the way Arizona did Saturday.
Carson Beck remains the long-term possibility, though the third-round rookie is hardly a sure thing. Until the Cardinals know what they have there, Brissett is the one expected to steer the offense. The problem is that he’s being asked to do it with a roster that, at least in this game, looked short on defensive depth and long on answers.
Saturday didn’t prove Arizona picked the wrong quarterback. It showed the Cardinals may have built the wrong team for the quarterback plan they chose.
In Other News...
Cardinals Roster Bubble Just Got Tougher After Ugly Cowboys Loss
With most of the starters resting, the Cardinals preseason loss to the Cowboys did not carry the usual weight on the scoreboard, but it still mattered for the players fighting to survive the final roster trim. Arizona fell 34-13 in a game that was more about evaluation than outcome, and there were a few encouraging signs mixed into an otherwise uneven night. Leota flashed enough to stand out, while a handful of others needed a cleaner showing to strengthen their cases.
Mike LaFleur said the staff is still sorting through player development and roster considerations as the cuts approach, which is where this kind of game can become unforgiving. Robinson and Ojulari were among the names that did not do much to separate themselves, and that leaves the bubble looking tighter than it did before kickoff. For players on the fringes, the next few days may matter even more than the final preseason score. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Face A Tough Tip Reiman Decision Before Cutdown Day
The Cardinals got a useful roster update with cornerback Garrett Williams coming off the PUP list and back into practice, but the more complicated injury watch still centers on Tip Reiman. The second-year tight end remains on the PUP list after breaking his ankle, and with Week 1 looming, the team is still sorting through what his availability will really look like when the season opens.
Mike LaFleur said Reimans status is uncertain, which leaves Arizona with a decision to make as cutdown day approaches. For a team trying to finalize its roster, the question is not just whether Reiman can return soon, but whether the Cardinals can afford to carry him while waiting for that recovery to play out. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Defense Just Made A Cowboys Quarterback Battle More Interesting
Joe Milton took a significant step in the Cowboys preseason quarterback competition against Arizona, making the most of his start with a sharp, efficient showing. He completed 9 of 13 passes for 179 yards and two touchdowns and also added a rushing score as Dallas rolled to a 34-13 win, moving to 2-0 in exhibition play. For a team trying to sort out the depth chart behind Dak Prescott, it was the kind of outing that can force coaches to pay closer attention.
Brian Schottenheimer singled out Miltons control and decision-making after the game, and that matters because the backup job is still very much up for grabs. The Cardinals, meanwhile, became part of a performance that sharpened the conversation around Dallas quarterback room, with Milton giving himself a real case to keep building on when the preseason continues. [Read more 🡒]