THE STORY: INDIANAPOLIS -- The starters sat again for the Cardinals against the Colts Saturday night at Lucas Oil Stadium, and that just meant more chance for players to win and/or solidify jobs.
Rookie running back Trey Benson looked good in James Conner's sted, although he had a 20-yard run negated on a penalty. Quarterback Clayton Tune again helped his chances to be named QB2. Pass rushers Xavier Thomas, Victor Dimukeje and Cam Thomas had impressive moments.
The Cardinals ultimately lost the game, 21-13, and coach Jonathan Gannon would prefer otherwise. But the purpose is still to sort out the roster, and that time is growing shorter.
"One of our modes of play is out brain and we didn't use it tonight, and that falls on me," Gannon said. "We can't self-destruct and we did that in all three phases. We've got to get that cleaned up."
The Cardinals had 11 penalties. But sorting through that, Gannon said he liked how Tune finished -- his final play was a 12-yard touchdown scramble, and Tune finished 8-of-10 for 79 yards and didn't turn the ball over. The Cardinals (0-2) led 10-7 at halftime.
"We've got to start faster and avoid some of those sacks, get the ball out quickly," Tune said, "but I liked how we finished."
Desmond RIdder played the second half, and while he went 6-for-10 for 71 yards, 32 of the yards came on the final drive of the game that ended when the clock ran out.
Benson looked better in his second game, gaining 43 yards on nine carries and that was after he had a 20-yard run wiped out by a penalty. He came out of the game early in the second quarter.
"I'm really just getting a feel for everything," Benson said. "The more I rep the better.
"I'm not done. I still have a lot more to show. That was just a sneak peek."
THE HIGHLIGHTS: Tune scrambled right before halftime untouched for a 12-yard touchdown, capping his evening by giving his team the lead. The drive was set up by the first interception by rookie safety Rabbit Taylor-Demerson, who made a great play closing on a throw by fourth-string Colts QB Jason Bean.
"I was real special," Taylor-Demerson said. "I was telling JT (Jalen Thompson) and Budda (Baker) all day today I was going to get one. Then literally told my two best friends I was feeling one. I told my agent I was getting one. Put it in my head all day.
"The play finally came and I caught it. I was cool. It was like electric going through my body when I caught it. I didn't know what to do."
TURNING POINT: As the teams traded second-half scores, the Cardinals stalled at the Colts 9-yard line and were forced to kick a field goal. With the Colts nursing a one-point lead, fourth-string QB Jason Bean led a TD drive that culminated on his own 1-yard run on fourth down and a 21-13 lead.
DEFENSE MAKES PLAYS: The Cardinals had three sacks in the first half -- L.J. Collier, Cam Thomas, and Xavier Thomas -- and consistent pressure on pass plays. In addition to the interception, cornerback Kei'Trel Clark also forced a fumble that Dante Stills recovered.
"The takeaways were why we stayed in the game," Gannon said. "Without the takeaways, we get the brakes beat off of us."
SITTING OUT: After the two joint practices during the week, it wasn't surprising that Gannon again sat his starters. First-round picks Marvin Harrison Jr. and Darius Robinson did not play (as opposed to Week 1). Offensively, the entire starting offensive line, receivers Michael Wilson, Greg Dortch and Zay Jones, and tight ends Trey McBride and Elijah Higgins all sat. On defense, defensive linemen Justin Jones, Bilal Nichols, and Roy Lopez, linebackers Zaven Collins, Dennis Gardeck, Kyzir White and Mack Wilson Sr., and defensive backs Garrett Williams, Sean Murphy-Bunting, Budda Baker, and Jalen Thompson also did not play.
