ARIZONA CARDINALS

Arizona Cardinals QB Josh Rosen has ‘frustrating’ night in loss to Broncos

Oct 18, 2018, 10:02 PM

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Josh Rosen (3) gets the throw off as Denver Broncos linebacker Von Mi...

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Josh Rosen (3) gets the throw off as Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller (58) makes the hit during the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso)

(AP Photo/Ralph Freso)

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Football fans know Arizona Cardinals rookie quarterback Josh Rosen from his days at UCLA and his selection in the first round of the NFL Draft, but Thursday night represented the introduction of Rosen’s play at the highest level.

His first primetime spotlight game against the Denver Broncos was a chance for Rosen to bounce back his team’s season with a strong night while also on a big stage.

Well, he theoretically had that chance until he didn’t, and it wasn’t there for that long. Rosen could never get in rhythm for a Cardinals team that posted one of their worst outings in recent years, a 45-10 loss to Denver.

Rosen finished 21-of-39 for 194 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions. He was sacked six times and fumbled three times. Of his three fumbles, two were lost and two of his interceptions were returned for touchdowns.

“I wasn’t great, I’ll tell you that,” Rosen said after the game.

“I obviously didn’t play up to my standards or even close to it but that’s why you play another one next week.”

While Rosen and his stats weren’t great, they don’t tell the whole story of the circumstances surrounding his night.

On the second play for the offense, Rosen was forced to call a timeout to avoid a delay of game call. Coming out of the timeout, Rosen’s pass intended for tight end Ricky Seals-Jones was tipped at the line and intercepted by Denver’s Todd Davis for a pick-six.

Three drives later, a 3rd-and-1 call for a short slant to J.J. Nelson led to Nelson not fully running out his route and Rosen throwing the ball right at Broncos cornerback Chris Harris Jr. That was intercepted for another touchdown.

Even though it was a tipped pass at the line that fell to a linebacker and another pass to the space where his receiver should be, Rosen became the first rookie quarterback in league history to throw two pick-sixes in the first quarter.

That made it 21-3, firmly putting the game out of reach for one of the worst offenses in the league and a 14-0 second quarter all but sealed that fact with a 35-3 halftime deficit.

Later in the first quarter, Rosen had to burn another timeout to avoid a delay of game, and the Cardinals took the penalty on a different play when wide receiver Christian Kirk was in motion.

Rosen was visibly frustrated when the flag was tossed.

The miscommunications were all over the field and the Cardinals looked out of sync all night.

“It was frustrating,” Rosen said of his night as a whole, shooting down the notion that he was overwhelmed at any time. “You just kind of wish you had some certain decisions back here and there.”

Despite the Broncos holding a four-score lead throughout the entire second half, Rosen played the entire game.

That led to a scary moment on the last drive when Rosen was sacked on fourth down. He stayed on the ground for a few moments holding his foot before getting up and walking off the field with a slight limp.

Rosen said after the game it was his toe and he’s fine.

“I was just being soft, I’ll be OK,” he said. “I’ll be good.”

That presented questions of what the franchise’s short- and long-term future was doing on the field, but the inexperienced Rosen cleared that up.

“I’d definitely rather stay in there and see as many defenses as I possibly can as early in my career as I can,” Rosen said. “If he would have tried to pull me out we would have definitely had to have a conversation about that one.”

With the Cardinals now 1-6, Rosen’s progression and improvement are now more important than anything else for the team the rest of the season.

Rosen hasn’t necessarily seen that through four starts, but he is aware of how long he has to come.

“Got a lot to learn,” he said. “More to learn than I would have wished for, but we’ve got a lot to learn, me in particular.”

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Josh Rosen (3) scrambles as Denver Broncos cornerback Chris Harris (25) and linebacker Bradley Chubb (55) defend during the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Josh Rosen (3) gets the throw off as Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller (58) makes the hit during the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso) Denver Broncos running back Phillip Lindsay (30) breaks free for a touchdown as Arizona Cardinals linebacker Haason Reddick (43) pursues during the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso) Denver Broncos Phillip Lindsay (30) scores a touchdown as Arizona Cardinals defensive back Bene' Benwikere defends during the second half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller (58) hits Arizona Cardinals quarterback Josh Rosen (3) as he throws during the second half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Denver Broncos cornerback Bradley Roby celebrates his touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals with cornerback Isaac Yiado, left, and defensive back Will Parks (34) during the second half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller (58) forces Arizona Cardinals quarterback Josh Rosen (3) to fumble during the second half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. Miller recovered the ball. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso) Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller (58) hits Arizona Cardinals quarterback Josh Rosen (3) as he throws during the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso) Denver Broncos quarterback Case Keenum (4) throws under pressure from Arizona Cardinals linebacker Haason Reddick (43) during the second half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso) Denver Broncos defensive back Jordan Moore (30) breaks free for a touchdown as Arizona Cardinals linebacker Haason Reddick (43) pursues during the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso) Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller (58) hits Arizona Cardinals quarterback Josh Rosen (3) as he throws during the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Josh Rosen (3) scrambles as Denver Broncos cornerback Chris Harris (25) and linebacker Bradley Chubb (55) defend during the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Josh Rosen (3) gets the throw off as Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller (58) makes the hit during the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso) Arizona Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks talks with side judge Alex Kemp (55) at halftime of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso) Denver Broncos running back Royce Freeman (28) scores a touchdown as Arizona Cardinals linebacker Gerald Hodges (51) defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso) An Arizona Cardinals fan wears a bag on his head during the first half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso) Arizona Cardinals defensive back Bene' Benwikere (23) breaks up a pass intended for Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton (14) during the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Denver Broncos running back Royce Freeman (28) stiff arms Arizona Cardinals defensive back Bene' Benwikere (23) during the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso) Denver Broncos defensive back Shamarko Thomas (38) tackles Arizona Cardinals cornerback Brandon Williams (26) during the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso) (AP Photo/Ralph Freso) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) scores his 111th career touchdown, tying former NFL player Tony Gonzalez, as Denver Broncos defensive back Shamarko Thomas defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) scores his 111th career touchdown, tying former NFL player Tony Gonzalez, as Denver Broncos defensive back Shamarko Thomas defends during the second half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Denver Broncos head coach Vance Joseph watches his team during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Josh Rosen (3) his sacked by Denver Broncos linebacker Shaquil Barrett (48) during the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Denver Broncos quarterback Case Keenum gets the throw off as Arizona Cardinals strong safety Budda Baker (36) pursues during the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks watches his team during the first half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso) Denver Broncos quarterback Case Keenum (4) warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald hugs Denver Broncos head coach Vance Joseph prior to an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Denver Broncos linebacker Todd Davis (51) celebrates his interception for a touchdown with free safety Justin Simmons during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Denver Broncos linebacker Todd Davis (51) celebrates his interception for a touchdown with free safety Justin Simmons (31) and cornerback Chris Harris (25) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Josh Rosen (3) throws against the Denver Broncos during the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso) Denver Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (10) throws for a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton (14) pulls in a touchdown pass form teammate wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Denver Broncos quarterback Case Keenum (4) looks to pass as Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Rodney Gunter (95) pursues during the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Denver Broncos quarterback Case Keenum (4) looks to pass against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Denver Broncos defensive back Jordan Moore (30) stiff arms Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson (21) during the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso) Denver Broncos running back Royce Freeman (28) is tackled by Arizona Cardinals linebacker Haason Reddick (43) and linebacker Josh Bynes (57) during the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso) Denver Broncos cornerback Chris Harris (25) celebrates his interception for a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Denver Broncos cornerback Chris Harris (25) high fives linebacker Todd Davis (51) as he scores a touchdown after an interception against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) is tackled by Denver Broncos free safety Justin Simmons (31) during the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Denver Broncos quarterback Case Keenum (4) throws a touchdown pass against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso) Denver Broncos defensive end Zach Kerr (92) celebrates his sack against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso) Denver Broncos defensive back Shamarko Thomas (38) tackles Arizona Cardinals cornerback Brandon Williams (26) during the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso) Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) is hit by Denver Broncos strong safety Darian Stewart (26) during the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Josh Rosen (3) warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso)

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