By BOB BAUM
AP Sports Writer

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) – Matt Barkley, trying to hang on to Arizona’s No. 3 quarterback job, outshone Denver rookie Paxton Lynch in the Cardinals’ 38-17 victory over the Broncos in the teams’ preseason finale on Thursday night.

As the starters for both teams took the night off, Barkley, in his fourth NFL season out of USC, completed 20 of 29 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions.

Lynch, the No. 26 pick overall in this year’s draft after a standout career at Memphis, was 13 for 22 for 214 yards and two scores, both to Jordan Taylor, but had an interception returned 29 yards for a touchdown by Gabe Martin.

Lynch’s night got off to a great start. His first pass went short to Taylor, who slipped a would-be tackle by Cariel Brooks and raced to the end zone on a 57-yard play.

The rookie QB played the entire game after coach Gary Kubiak announced that Trevor Siemian would be the starting quarterback. Mark Sanchez, listed as the No. 2 quarterback, did not play.

Taylor, who spent his rookie season in 2015 on the practice squad and was best known as the personal receiver for Peyton Manning in the quarterback’s rehab work, caught four passes for 109 yards.

Rookie Elijhaa Penny, who could be headed for the Arizona practice squad, rushed for 113 yards in the Cardinals’ lone victory of the preseason.

Starters sat out the game for both teams, with the exception of Arizona rookie cornerback Brandon Williams, who played the first few series. Arizona wide receiver John Brown, sidelined with a concussion since early in training camp, played the first two series.

After spotting Denver to a 10-0 lead, the Cardinals scored the next 23 points, capped by Chandler Catanzaro’s 59-yard field goal early in the third quarter. Catanzaro’s longest in his first two NFL seasons was 51 yards.

POSITION BATTLES

Broncos: In the competition for the No. 3 running back job, Kapri Bibbs gained 51 yards in 10 carries. Ronnie Hillman had 9 yards in three attempts.

Cardinals: Arizona coach Bruce Arians said this week there were 12 players competing for four remaining spots on the 53-man roster. He said the difference would be who performed better on special teams.

ROOKIE WATCH

Broncos: Riley Dixon, who won the punting job from Britton Colquitt, had an 18-yarder late in the first half. That led to a six-play, 45-yard Cardinals touchdown drive, Barkley throwing 14 yards to Jaxson Shipley for the TD with 30 seconds left in the half.

Cardinals: Defensive tackle Robert Knemdiche, Arizona’s first-round pick (No. 29 overall), spent considerable time in the Denver backfield in his first extensive playing time. He missed most of training camp with a high ankle sprain.

INJURY UPDATE

Broncos: DE Henry Melton, an eight-year NFL veteran who signed with Denver last week, limped off the field in the first half, but returned in the third quarter.

Cardinals: OLB Kareem Martin had to be helped off the field in the third quarter. OLB Tristan Okpalaugo left in the second quarter with a right knee injury.

By AMIE JUST
Associated Press

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Rookie quarterback Joe Callahan capped a strong preseason by throwing for 143 yards and a touchdown as the Green Bay Packers lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 17-7 in their preseason finale Thursday night.

Callahan played almost the entire way in a game featuring second- and third-teamers on both sides. The product of Division III Wesley College has been trying to earn the No. 3 job behind Aaron Rodgers and Brett Hundley, who has been sidelined by an ankle injury this preseason.

The only first-stringers to see much of the field were specialists on both teams.

They needed some practice, too.

After the Chiefs’ third straight three-and-out in the first quarter, Dustin Colquitt’s punt was blocked by Green Bay wide receiver Ty Montgomery. The Packers only needed two plays for Callahan to hit tight end Jared Cook for the game’s opening touchdown.

The game also featured the debut of Green Bay punter Jacob Schum, who was claimed off waivers from Tampa Bay this week. Schum replaced veteran punter Tim Masthay in a surprising roster move.

Kansas City running back Knile Davis, who could be traded by the weekend, ran 15 times for 58 yards and a touchdown. The former third-round draft pick also caught a pass out of the backfield.

Darrin Reaves also had 63 yards rushing and a touchdown for Kansas City.

ROOKIE WATCH

Packers: SS Marwin Evans had six tackles for Green Bay before getting shaken up on special teams. RB Brandon Burks had 31 yards rushing on 12 carries in the contest.

Chiefs: SS Eric Murray had a pair of tackles as he tries to win a backup job. WR Tyreek Hill was targeted four times without a reception, dropping one pass that would have been a first down.

POSITION BATTLES

Packers: The wide receiver depth after Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb remains in flux. Davante Adams, Ty Montgomery and Jared Abbrederis are in the mix. Abbrederis had two catches for 49 yards Thursday night, while Adams caught two passes for 20 yards.

Chiefs: LBs Ramik Wilson and Justin March are competing for Kansas City’s inside linebacker spot alongside Derrick Johnson following a season-ending injury to Josh Mauga. Wilson had a nice tackle for loss early in the game and appeared to have the inside track.

INJURY UPDATE

Packers: Rookie WR Trevor Davis left the game with a shoulder injury after making a nice catch along the sideline on the first series of the game. Geronimo Allison replaced him on the next possession.

Chiefs: The Chiefs rested RB Jamaal Charles and LB Tamba Hali, just as they did their first three preseason games. Both are coming off knee surgery but are expected to play in the season opener.

BERRY SITS OUT

As expected, Chiefs SS Eric Berry sat out the preseason finale. Berry signed his franchise tender last weekend and finally reported to training camp, but only practiced a couple of days. Chiefs coach Andy Reid said he expects Berry to be ready for the regular season.