All summer, from training camp to their first two preseason games, the Arizona Cardinals have constructed the optimistic case for their 2026 season. Led by an exciting new head coach in Mike LaFleur, they’ve looked efficient and occasionally explosive on offense, paired with strong performances from their scattered franchise cornerstones on defense.
Not on Saturday, Aug. 22. Resting the majority of their starters against the Dallas Cowboys, the Cardinals struggled from the start in all three phases, eventually losing 34-13.
It was a game filled with miscues that they’ll aim to correct before next week’s trip to Green Bay, where they’ll hold a joint practice and play their final preseason game against the Packers. Here are three winners and losers
for Arizona.
Winners
Defensive free agent signings
When the Cardinals signed linebacker Jack Gibbens and safety Andrew Wingard this spring, they did not seem like moves that would determine the course of their season.
Both players signed in the second week of free agency — after most marquee players are already gone — and inked paltry deals, worth $3.7 million and $3.0 million against the cap, respectively.
Plus, the Cardinals had recent draft picks at both positions, in the form of Cody Simon and Dadrion Taylor-Demerson. Both were fourth-rounders, and both seemed ready to step into a new role this season, with the Cardinals’ previous veteran starters (Akeem Davis-Gaither and Jalen Thompson) having departed.
But on Saturday night, the Cardinals provided the latest indication of how they view those positions. Gibbens and Wingard both rested, while Simon and Taylor-Demerson started and played the first few drives. That’s a clear hierarchy, and it favors the veterans.
Running back Bam Knight
Among those who didn’t dress for the Cardinals, the biggest surprise was running back Bam Knight.
Entering camp, Knight looked like perhaps the fifth running back on the depth chart, behind Jeremiyah Love, Tyler Allgeier, James Conner and Trey Benson. Now, the Cardinals are protecting him as if his spot on the Week 1 roster is secure.
And it makes sense. Love is dealing with a high-ankle sprain that has put his availability for Week 1 up in the air. Conner has not yet participated in 11-on-11 drills as he continues to work back from a foot injury, and he missed practice on Thursday, Aug. 20. Benson has been sidelined for nearly three weeks due to a “flare-up” of his surgically repaired meniscus.
That leaves Knight and Allgeier as the top two running backs who the Cardinals currently know that they can rely upon to begin the season.
"Just wanted to make sure that we were taking care of him at this point and where we're at in that running back room," LaFleur said.
Wide receiver depth
The Cardinals have gotten some impressive performances out of their wide receiver corps in training camp, complicating the decisions on who to keep out of that group.
One player who continues to impress is veteran Simi Fehoko, who had another strong day against the Cowboys. He punctuated his day with a beautiful catch on a 37-yard back shoulder fade from Gardner Minshew — one week after catching one of those for a touchdown.
Reggie Virgil, their fifth-round rookie, also caught two passes for 26 yards, including a strong catch through contact.
But it’s Jalen Brooks who appears to have made the strongest impression, as he earned the benefit of an early exit after catching two passes for 14 yards. He seems to be a step ahead of the others in the competition for roster spots.
The Cardinals’ starters will still be Marvin Harrison Jr., Michael Wilson and Kendrick Bourne — that much has never been in doubt — but they can now feel better about their depth if they encounter any injuries.
Losers
Darius Robinson and B.J. Ojulari
When the Cardinals’ starters trotted onto the field, their starting defensive line was as follows: Jordan Burch, Andrew Billings, Dante Stills and Eku Leota.
That does not seem to bode well for B.J. Ojulari and Darius Robinson. Both players — a pair of top-50 picks in 2023 and 2024, respectively — were in uniform and played on Saturday night. But neither was tabbed as a starter, even on a day when most of the Cardinals’ key players sat out.
And when they did eventually get on the field, neither made much of an impression. Ojulari, an edge rusher, did not log a single pressure, per Pro Football Focus, while Robinson struggled to fill space in the run game.
It seems unlikely that Robinson’s roster spot would be in peril, given that he’s a former first-round pick who is only entering his third season. Plus, the Cardinals lack much depth on the interior of their defensive line. But after a strong training camp, there was optimism that he could make more of an impact this season. Now, the arrow is again pointing down.
"We just thought we needed to get a little bit more time with him in real football," LaFleur said.
For Ojulari, the stakes are more existential. He’s entering his fourth season and has yet to establish himself in the league. If this coaching staff prefers Leota, Ojulari may be the odd one out. After all, he remained on the field into the fourth quarter — rarely a positive sign.
Cardinals cornerbacks room
One of the most intriguing competitions of the summer has been for the Cardinals’ second outside cornerback spot, with Denzel Burke and Max Melton trading off opportunities across from Will Johnson.
With just three weeks until the season opener, no clear favorite has emerged — both players, somewhat surprisingly, were active against the Cowboys. Ideally, one of those players would have separated themselves by now.
That wasn’t the only concern in the secondary against the Cowboys. Nickel Sean Murphy-Bunting — an eight-year veteran — played deep into the first half, while outside corner Starling Thomas V was beaten for a 53-yard touchdown on a go route in man coverage. Further down the depth chart, the Cardinals had all sorts of issues, allowing Joe Milton to complete 9 of 13 passes for 179 yards and two touchdowns.
As it stands, the Cardinals seem confident that they can rely on Johnson (and Garrett Williams, once he’s fully healthy). Beyond that, the picture is murky.
LaFleur’s offensive operation
LaFleur first emphasized the importance of having a clean pre-snap operation back in February, at his introductory press conference. Little has changed since. This is among LaFleur's favorite talking points, week after week. It’s a trait, he repeats, that requires no skill — just focus and discipline.
And yet, the Cardinals have struggled with those routine parts of the game, both in training camp and in their first three preseason games. Against the Cowboys, they committed eight penalties, including two false starts. Twice, they had touchdowns wiped off by flags. On another occasion, they were moved off the goal line by a false start and ultimately settled for a field goal.
To LaFleur, it was the culmination of what he's seen since last week's game against the Raiders.
"We had a sloppy week of practice," LaFleur said. "I don't think we've practiced really well since Vegas. ... And I thought this was, tonight, a summary of that week in general."
The challenge now is figuring out why this week was sloppy and what the coaching staff can do to fix it. Because for a team already lacking in high-end talent, these are self-inflicted mistakes that the Cardinals can't afford.
"It's definitely not up to what our standard was," Fehoko said. "And then today was the epitome of that. There were a lot of mental mistakes."
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Winners, losers from Arizona Cardinals preseason loss to Cowboys
