The Arizona Cardinals’ first series of the preseason was a positive one that put points on the board.
Third-string quarterback Trace McSorley got the starting nod for Arizona, and the dual-threat option used both parts of his game to get Arizona a touchdown.
After an eight-yard toss to Andy Isabella and two rushes for six yards from Eno Benjamin, McSorley nearly threw an interception before a deep ball on third down to Isabella drew a 40-yard pass interference call.
That got the Cardinals down to the Bengals’ 25-yard line, where a 12-yard designed run for McSorley picked up another first down.
Trace McSorley on a keeper and has the @AZCardinals driving! @McSorley_IX
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— NFL (@NFL) August 12, 2022
A two-yard rush via Benjamin was followed by a nifty rollout by McSorley to find wideout Greg Dortch for seven more yards.
On 3rd-and-1, it was more of getting McSorley’s legs moving. The signal caller rolled to the left on the play-action pass, where he’d see an open Andre Baccellia and hurled a four-yard touchdown pass.
THROW IT ON A DIME.@McSorley_IX to Andre Baccellia! @AZCardinals
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— NFL (@NFL) August 12, 2022
Kicker Matt Prater missed the extra point.
McSorley went 3-for-5 with 19 yards and that touchdown on the opening drive.
Arizona got a field goal from Prater on its next drive for a 9-0 lead midway through the first quarter, thanks in large part to a huge catch by Dortch for 30 yards and a screen pass to running back Jonathan Ward that gained another 21.
McSorley back at it. Great catch from @_GDortch, too.
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— NFL (@NFL) August 13, 2022