Cardinals’ Desmond Ridder, Clayton Tune battle for the QB2 spot in preseason loss to Saints
Aug 10, 2024, 6:36 PM | Updated: 10:38 pm
Desmond Ridder #19 of the Arizona Cardinals looks to throw the ball against the New Orleans Saints during the second quarter of a preseason game at State Farm Stadium on August 10, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
(Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Desmond Ridder and Clayton Tune battled for the QB2 spot as the team drops its preseason opener to the New Orleans Saints 16-14.
Ridder got the start in the team’s first preseason game as he and the team got off to a slow start as he went three-and-out on their first series after Ridder was sacked by Nathan Shepherd and Carl Granderson.
After the Cardinals turned it over on downs in the second quarter, Saints quarterback Jake Haener and the team’s offense went down the field and led the Saints to a field goal, giving them a 3-0 lead.
The Cardinals would get in the red zone the following drive before turning it over on downs again.
After a 58-yard completion to A.T. Perry, Haener and the Saints would add three more points to extend their lead to 6-0 going into halftime.
Ridder finished his start, completing four of nine passes with 43 passing yards. He also rushed for 39 yards.
Tune took over at quarterback for Ridder in the second half. In his first drive of the second half, Tune and the offense would get on the scoreboard, courtesy of an 11-yard touchdown run by Michael Carter to give them a 7-6 lead following a Matt Prater extra point.
.@8kMike put on the jets for that one‼️
📺: #NOvsAZ on CBS pic.twitter.com/rPfJZmZ2vk
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) August 11, 2024
In the fourth quarter, trailing 13-7, Tune led the team down the field on a 76-yard drive, finishing the drive off with a touchdown pass to running back Tony Jones Jr. with under two minutes remaining to tie the game and the Cardinals would take a 14-13 lead, following a Prater extra point.
The touchdown! The dive! We love it!
📺: #NOvsAZ on CBS pic.twitter.com/HULdl5Y4br
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) August 11, 2024
The Saints would respond with a drive led by rookie quarterback and Arizona native Spencer Rattler, who led the team down the field 56 yards to put the team in field goal position, where kicker Charlie Smyth would kick the game-winning field goal with five seconds remaining.
Tune finished the game completing 15 of 24 passes with 163 yards and a touchdown.
Gannon gave postgame praise to Tune’s play in the game:
Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon on quarterback Clayton Tune’s performance against the New Orleans Saints.
🎥: @FelisDeportes pic.twitter.com/7NTf1pwPWq— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) August 11, 2024
Receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. played only one drive in the first half and wasn’t targeted.
Gannon also provided postgame thoughts on what Harrison got out of his first NFL game:
Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon on what rookie wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. got out of his first NFL game.
🎥: @FelisDeportes pic.twitter.com/o5J0zkyMdl— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) August 11, 2024
First-round pick Darius Robinson got the start at defensive tackle and got the first tackle of the first series, which resulted in the Saints punting, while third-round pick Trey Benson would get some playing time, rushing eight times for 21 yards.
