Arizona Cardinals Release Quarterback Desmond Ridder

The Arizona Cardinals have released quarterback Desmond Ridder as they finalize their 53-man roster, opting to retain Clayton Tune as the backup to Kyler Murray. Ridder, who was traded to Arizona from the Atlanta Falcons earlier this offseason, struggled throughout training camp and the preseason, finishing with 225 passing yards and no touchdowns across three games. Tune, a fifth-round pick, outperformed Ridder with 361 yards, one touchdown, and solid rushing stats, securing the backup position. Ridder had shown some promise in his final preseason game but had to leave due to a concussion. The Cardinals now have the fourth waiver priority, potentially allowing them to acquire another quarterback. Ridder, a third-round pick in 2022, is likely to seek opportunities on another team's practice squad following his release.