In the Arizona Cardinals’ 16-14 preseason loss to the New Orleans Saints Saturday night, 31 players participated in at least one of the 69 defensive snaps and 50 that played at least one of the 25 special teams snaps.
The first number after each name is snaps and the second is the percentage. Players in bold were starters.
Defensive linemen
- Ben Stille 29/42, Dante Stills 29/42, Myles Murphy 23/33, Phil Hoskins 20/29, Khyiris Tonga 18/26, Roy Lopez 16/23, Naquan Jones 14/20, L.J. Collier 11/16, Darius Robinson 11/16
- Did not play: Justin Jones, Bilal Nichols
Robinson had a tackle on the first play of the game and also drew a holding penalty. He played only 11 snaps, but made his presence felt. Said head coach Jonathan Gannon, “He looked good. I need to watch some tape on that, but I saw that he made one play in there. I saw him get pounded on a double and they didn’t move him, so he looked good.”
Stills had three solo tackles, while Lopez also had three tackles with one solo. Hoskins and Murphy had neutral-zone infractions in the Saints’ game-winning field-goal drive.
Linebackers
- OLB Xavier Thomas 34,49, ILB Owen Pappoe 34/49, OLB Jesse Luketa 31/45, OLB Tyreke Smith 31/45, ILB Markus Bailey 26/38, OLB Victor Dimukeje 25/36, ILB Krys Barnes 25/36, ILB Tyreek Maddox-Williams 24/35, OLB Cam Thomas 23/33, ILB Trevor Nowaske 17/25
- Did not play: OLB Zaven Collins, OLB Dennis Gardeck, ILB Kyzir White, ILB Mack Wilson Sr.
Xavier Thomas was a standout with three tackles (two solo), one of which was for loss. He added a sack and two quarterback hits. Bailey tied for the team lead with four tackles (three solo), Nowaske had three solo tackles and Pappoe had three tackles (two solo). Cam Thomas had a solo tackle for loss and a quarterback hit. Smith also had a QB hit.
Defensive backs
- S Dadrion (Rabbit) Taylor-Demerson 38/55, CB Divaad Wilson 34/49, CB Darren Hall 33/48, S Verone McKinley III 31/45, CB Michael Ojemudia 30/43, CB Elijah Jones 26/38, S Andre Chachere 26/38, CB Starling Thomas V 25/36, S Joey Blount 24/35, CB Bobby Price 18/26, CB Jaden Davis 18/26, CB Kei’Trel Clark 15/22
- Did not play: S Budda Baker, CB Delonte Hood, CB Max Melton, CB Sean Murphy-Bunting, S Jalen Thompson, CB Garrett Williams
Demerson-Taylor and Hall had four tackles (three solo). Hall also had a forced fumble and pass defensed. Thomas had a pass breakup that was a near interception.
Gannon likes what he’s seen of the rookie Taylor-Demerson’s progress: “He is one that has been under the radar. He is doing a really good job. He is playing fourth down too. I thought he was in the right spot most of the game. I saw him have a couple of violent hits.”
Special teams
- LB Tyreek Maddox-Williams 16/64, CB Bobby Price 14/56, LB Jesse Luketa 13/52, LB Markus Bailey 12/48, LB Trevor Nowaske 12/48, RB/KR Tony Jones Jr. 11/44, CB Elijah Jones 11/44, S Dadrion (Rabbit) Taylor Demerson 11/44, LB Xavier Thomas 11/44, WR Dan Chisena 10/40, RB/KR DeeJay Dallas 9/36, TE Blake Whiteheart 8/32, S Andre Chachere 8/32, LB Owen Pappoe 7/28, P Blake Gillikin 7/28, WR/KR Xavier Weaver 6/24, TE Travis Vokolek 6/24, CB Divaad Wilson 6/24, S Joey Blount 6/24, LB Cam Thomas 6/24, WR Zach Pascal 5/20, TE Tip Reiman 5/20, CB Darren Hall 5/20, S Verone McKinley III 5/20, LB Tyreke Smith 5/20, K Matt Prater 5/20, DL Ben Stille 4/16, LB Victor Dimukeje 4/16, CB Kei’Trel Clark 4/16, LS Aaron Brewer 4/16, LB Krys Barnes 3/12, CB Jaden Davis 3/12, LS Joe Shimko 3/12, G Marquis Hayes 2/8, T Christian Jones 2/8, C Keith Ismael 2/8, G Isaiah Adams 2/8, T Jackson Barton 2/8, T Austen Pleasants 2/8, WR Andre Baccellia 2/8, TE Bernhard Seikovits 2/8, CB Michael Ojemudia 2/8, DL Dante Stills 2/8, DL Myles Murphy 2/8, DL Naquan Jones 2/8, WR Daniel Arias 1/4, WR Chris Moore 1/4, TE Elijah Higgins 1/4, DL Phil Hoskins 1/4, DL Khyiris Tonga 1/4
On returns, Weaver had two punts for 34 yards and a kickoff return for 28. Dallas had three punt returns for 20 yards and a kickoff return for 30. Tony Jones Jr. had a 22-yard kickoff return.
Gillikin averaged 44.2 yards on five punts with a long of 57, but had a net of 35.4 because of a touchback and 39-yard punt.
Players with solo tackles on special-teams coverage were Bailey, Nowaske, Pappoe, Dallas and Tyreke Smith. Brewer and Shimko shared snaps on punts with Shimko handling three of the five. Brewer snapped on both extra points.
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