DENVER — — Zach Wilson kicked off a touchdown drive with a 21-yard scramble and threw a 46-yard TD pass to Brandon Johnson, giving the Denver Broncos a perfect preseason ending with a 38-12 win over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.

Jarrett Stidham started for Denver (3-0) and led a touchdown drive capped by a 3-yard score from rookie running back Audric Estime on his lone possession. He then joined newly named starter Bo Nix on the sideline, giving Wilson his most extended action of the summer.

Wilson, the former second overall draft pick by the Jets in 2021, has 33 career NFL starts and that experience was on display when he sparked an 11-play, 77-yard touchdown drive with an impressive scramble from his own 13 on second-and-20. He finished the drive with a 1-yard touchdown toss to tight end Nate Atkins that gave Denver a 14-0 lead.

Wilson’s 1-yard keeper capped an 88-yard drive that made it 24-6 in the third quarter, finding Johnson from 46 yards out with 6:22 left.

Wilson completed 16 of 25 passes for 251 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.

Broncos coach Sean Payton said Tuesday he would prefer to keep all three quarterbacks on his 53-man roster, but that could depend on Stidham taking a $5 million pay cut.

Clayton Tune and Desmond Ridder split snaps in their final tryout to serve as Kyler Murray’s backup at Arizona (0-3). Tune was 12 of 18 for 119 yards with no touchdowns, an interception and a pair of sacks by Jordan Jackson.

Knight was 10 of 16 for 111 yards in relief of Tune when he went to the medical tent in the final minutes after a hard hit. Tune went back and threw an interception on his first snap that linebacker Levelle Bailey returned 96 yards for a touchdown.

Denver DB Kedron Smith recorded his third takeaway of the preseason when he recovered Tony Jones Jr.’s fumble at the Denver 3-yard line. Jones injured his shoulder and was forced off the field.

Matt Prater’s 50-yarder as the first half ended made it 14-3. He tackled a 24-yarder and Haassan Hall accounted for Arizona’s only touchdown with a 3-yard run in the fourth quarter to make it 24-12. The 2-point attempt was unsuccessful.

Injuries

Denver DB Damarri Mathis, who started 17 games over the past two seasons, injured his right ankle making a tackle on the second play of the game and was carted off. Broncos LB Durell Nchami left the game with a pulled hamstring. Cardinals CBs Divaad Wilson (wrist), Elijah Jones (ankle) and Darren Hall (hip) were all injured, and Cardinals TE Sage Surratt (ankle) left the game in the third quarter. O-lineman Christian Jones was carted off in the final minutes with an undisclosed injury.

Next

Cardinals: Season opener September 8 in Buffalo.

Seahawks: Season opener September 8 at Seattle.

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl