Cardinals cornerback Brandon Williams is congratulated by safety Matthias Farley after Williams recovered a fumble in Friday night's 34-10 loss to the Raiders.
The first game of the preseason Friday night had little to do with the Cardinals' starters.
Both sides of the ball played only one series and were generally effective, and coach Bruce Arians noted afterward, "I thought our good players played well."
Two starters were stretched beyond a single series, though, players in need of experience because both are likely to play large roles for a Super Bowl-contending team. And while cornerback Brandon Williams and tackle
D.J. Humphries didn't play perfect in a 31-10 loss to the Raiders, they gave Arians hope.
Williams, the rookie third-round pick who changed from running back to cornerback just about a year ago, was targeted early and often. The Raiders threw at him on the very first play – a 16-yard gain to Michael Crabtree – and he was later beat for a touchdown despite close coverage.
But Williams also had a couple of pass breakups among the six times Oakland threw his way, recovered a fumble and drew an offensive pass interference penalty.
"They wanted to test me, see what I had, see what all this buzz was about me," Williams said.
In the end, his debut had "ups and downs," Williams said. "It's what I expected since I just started playing the positon. I knew they were going to try and attack me."
The same went for Humphries, who struggled on the first series against all-pro defensive end Khalil Mack. He was helped some on both plays – running back David Johnson got Mack good enough on the second one that quarterback Carson Palmer found wide receiver Michael Floyd for a 30-yard gain – and admitted nerves got the
better of him.
"I knew I was going against one of the best so I was trying to go out there and prove something instead of playing sound in my game like I've been coached," Humphries said. "After that first series I settled down.
"It was not up to my standards, personally. I was too hyped to start the game. I was too excited, too amped up and oversetting."
Palmer agreed Humphries played better after he settled in as well, and the first-team offense did drive down the field on the first possession – although the drive stalled after the Cardinals got a first-and-goal at the Oakland 8, forcing a field goal.
"We need to be a little bit sharper and continue to rep in that area," said Palmer, who was 3-for-5 for 38 yards.
David Johnson was excellent starting at running back (31 yards on three carries, plus his nice block) and the Cards' running game overall went well, averaging almost five yards a carry.
After the starters went out, however, there were offensive issues. Drew Stanton did lead a touchdown drive, although he threw an interception that the Raiders converted into a touchdown. Third-string QB Matt Barkley played the majority of the game and was not helped with a few drops, but he also wasn't as sharp as he needed to be in completing just 8-of-24 passes.
The turnovers – J.J. Nelson also fumbled away a punt return – didn't sit well with Arians.
"Individually there were some good things with the young players, although collectively it was not very good," Arians said.
Arians said both Williams and Humphries did well. That's what matters at this point. Arians said he was "not really concerned" about the result. The starters "won" in Arians' eyes – the first-team defense forced a punt in their brief work – and there were no significant injuries.
So the Cardinals go back to practice, which includes a pair in San Diego this week leading into a game Friday against the Chargers.
"It was a good beginning," Arians said. "A good start."
Images from the Cardinals' first preseason game against the Raiders on Friday night
![S Marqui Christian breaks up a pass for Raiders FB Marcel Reece](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/mwckhsjhytwxa4vwi15a.jpg)
S Marqui Christian breaks up a pass for Raiders FB Marcel Reece
![Coach Bruce Arians and coach Jack del Rio](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/fcxv2bp64wtsyo7urudg.jpg)
Coach Bruce Arians and coach Jack del Rio
![WR Michael Floyd](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/xbo90v1utxsfzs9qupgu.jpg)
WR Michael Floyd
![Raiders RB Latavius Murray](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/i32hoqdl0godhmfmfayo.jpg)
Raiders RB Latavius Murray
![QB Carson Palmer](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/qjezw3pwsidzr1o0jqes.jpg)
QB Carson Palmer
![A Raiders and Cardinals fan](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/gfxuxecchqifbafr2etd.jpg)
A Raiders and Cardinals fan
![Cardinals getting ready to run out of the pre-game tunnel](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/qqnomkcfe419jalbcdcw.jpg)
Cardinals getting ready to run out of the pre-game tunnel
![RB David Johnson](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/nhgtym8vqixvxtv3cgab.jpg)
RB David Johnson
![K Chandler Catanzaro boots an extra point](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/yczcxr7ej9cshplg0a5e.jpg)
K Chandler Catanzaro boots an extra point
![Coach Bruce Arians, team president Michael Bidwill and General Manager Steve Keim before the preseason game against the Oakland Raiders](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/tdteeskd91weglyvobo5.jpg)
Coach Bruce Arians, team president Michael Bidwill and General Manager Steve Keim before the preseason game against the Oakland Raiders
![RB David Johnson](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/majl0pwtwgg3kkpjxlnx.jpg)
RB David Johnson
![RB Andre Ellington](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/hrnbclzdjtdvx0j4x3i3.jpg)
RB Andre Ellington
![WR Larry Fitzgerald](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/asgr9rp7aovvl78oyywu.jpg)
WR Larry Fitzgerald
![S Tyrann Mathieu](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/r1wwdjzuoduwx7jfodvq.jpg)
S Tyrann Mathieu
![WR Michael Floyd](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/caskk1iyuavfjzesm0bw.jpg)
WR Michael Floyd
![TE Troy Niklas](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/pv1k7nfw8hhfwd01bbgm.jpg)
TE Troy Niklas
![RB Kerwynn Williams](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/wqzbg8s3nt8filmiavdb.jpg)
RB Kerwynn Williams
![Coach Bruce Arians](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/fqjzwhhkkkk6w6wf9ime.jpg)
Coach Bruce Arians
![QB Matt Barkley](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/i1aqqnk7ex6cwgrn3jjr.jpg)
QB Matt Barkley
![QB Drew Stanton](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/ipswzzfp1dtpfnotwhkx.jpg)
QB Drew Stanton
![RB Stepfan Taylor](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/ljrkbtx3ms4tiicknfgw.jpg)
RB Stepfan Taylor
![RB Andre Ellington](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/uj4q0x4hzshfjpugdd0u.jpg)
RB Andre Ellington
![QB Carson Palmer](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/bb63ffbu59o4nfrn4yht.jpg)
QB Carson Palmer
![TE Troy Niklas](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/d0qaffic94ednvrmtzqg.jpg)
TE Troy Niklas
![QB Matt Barkley](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/nkz885df6cly6gds413n.jpg)
QB Matt Barkley
![QB Matt Barkley](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/dwwsxejxowdxfwcrxa1q.jpg)
QB Matt Barkley
![Cards defense makes a tackle](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/uqzpm0jdn2temwqjthbq.jpg)
Cards defense makes a tackle
![QB Matt Barkley](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/ukpqzhhs7s4cnxzxoi3t.jpg)
QB Matt Barkley
![Coach Bruce Arians](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/d1xjtr3rxuabjlrphpll.jpg)
Coach Bruce Arians
![RB Andre Ellington](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/pyigmdwkwqzjntrw00c7.jpg)
RB Andre Ellington