Rookie QB Josh Rosen sharp in second preseason game for Cardinals
Aug 17, 2018, 8:45 PM | Updated: Aug 18, 2018, 2:44 pm
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Josh Rosen (3) passes in the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
(AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Arizona Cardinals rookie quarterback Josh Rosen showed what all the hype was about on Friday night against the New Orleans Saints.
In his second preseason game as an NFL quarterback, Rosen was sharp, completing 10 of his 16 pass attempts for 107 yards and a touchdown.
Rosen’s most impressive throw was his biggest, a touchdown to fellow rookie Christian Kirk in the early second quarter.
“It’s awesome to get your first [touchdown], but I didn’t save the ball or anything,” Rosen said after the game. “I’m waiting for hopefully in a regular season game to throw my first.”
On 3rd-and-goal from the Saints’ 13-yard line, Rosen was given plenty of time to hang in the pocket.
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He did just that, keeping himself active until he located Kirk over the middle and delivered an absolute laser beam for a 13-yard touchdown pass to make it 14-0 Cardinals.
“Great catch,” head coach Steve Wilks said after the game to 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station. “Started once again with protection. Josh did a great job stepping up and Christian finished the play. It was a hell of a job. Nice rep all around.”
On his next drive, Rosen completed a 15-yard pass to wide receiver Chad Williams and a 17-yard pass to tight end Gabe Holmes to move Arizona up the field.
Completions to wide receiver J.J. Nelson and running back D.J. Foster continued the drive, and Phil Dawson’s 41-yard field goal made it a three-score game and a 17-0 Arizona lead before halftime.
“I thought it was impressive,” Wilks said of the drive. “Once again, it showed his maturity. He’s growing up, he’s doing some good things. A lot of the things we do in practice, situational football, you can see it carrying over.”
The great performance from the first-round pick Rosen followed up a promising, yet unproductive debut when he finished 6-of-13 for 41 yards against the Los Angeles Chargers.
“I thought all guys, while they were in there, did a great job of going through their progressions, stepping up and really connecting with the receivers,” Wilks said of the performance by the quarterbacks.
“Josh is a baller,” Williams told 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station after the game. “Y’all know who Josh is.”
