Zach Wilson leads the Broncos' backups to a 38-12 win over the Cardinals in preseason finale

DENVER (AP) — Zach Wilson and Jarrett Stidham both made strong closing cases for surviving roster cuts after losing out to rookie Bo Nix in the Denver Broncos' latest quarterback competition.

Stidham directed an efficient touchdown drive Sunday in his only possession and Wilson drove Denver on four scoring drives as the Broncos wrapped up a perfect preseason with a 38-12 walloping of the Arizona Cardinals.

“Both those guys looked good,” said Broncos coach Sean Payton, who reiterated that he'd like to keep all three QBs when final cuts are made Tuesday. “We feel comfortable with all three.”

In his most extensive action this summer, Wilson jumpstarted a touchdown drive with a 21-yard scramble and threw a 46-yard TD on a frozen rope of a pass to Brandon Johnson with a beaten defensive back cutting across his path and he sped into the end zone.

Stidham's cameo concluded with rookie running back Audric Estime's 3-yard score.

“It was great,” Stidham said. “I knew going into it if I went down and scored on the first drive I'd probably be done. So, I'm really proud of the guys.”

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

“I think getting hit in the face” on the long scramble “will help you get ready,” Wilson said with a smile.

Wilson's 1-yard keeper capped an 88-yard drive that made it 24-6 in the third quarter and he found Johnson from 46 yards out with 6:22 remaining.

Wilson finished 16 of 25 for 251 yards, two TDs and no interceptions in relief of Stidham, who directed a 10-play, 55-yard drive by going 2 of 4 for 28 yards.

Payton bristled when asked if financial ramifications will come into play when deciding how many QBs to keep. Stidham is due $5 million this season and there's been speculation he might have to take a paycut to stick around.

“No, we've got enough money,” Payton said. “I understand the question. We feel comfortable with those three quarterbacks. I think I've told you already I see the three of them making it.”

When that notion was relayed to Wilson in the locker room, he said, “Yeah, exciting. But you know cut day's not until Tuesday, so we'll see what happens.”

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

Ridder was 10 of 16 for 111 yards in relief of Tune when he went to the medical tent in the closing minutes following a hard hit that left him in concussion protocol. Tune went back in and on his first snap threw an interception 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. Jones was knocked from the game with a shoulder injury on the play.

Matt Prater's 50-yarder as the first half expired made it 14-3. He tacked on a 24-yarder and Haassan Hall accounted for Arizona's only touchdown with a 3-yard run in the fourth quarter that made it 24-12.

“I just told ’em the effort was good, they battled in there today. But you lost the explosive play battle, you lost the takeaway battle. And that’s what happens, you get beat," Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon said.

Cardinals safety Darren Hall said the turnovers not withstanding, the Cardinals “feel good.”

“We're still building. We’ve got a long way to go but as a team we’re real close. We have a real close bond,” he said. "The sky’s the limit for this team.”

Denver DB Damarri Mathis, who started 17 games over the last two seasons, injured his right ankle on a tackle on the game's second play from scrimmage and was carted off. Payton said it didn't appear signficant. Broncos LB Durell Nchami pulled a hamstring. Cardinals CBs Divaad Wilson (wrist), Elijah Jones (ankle) and Darren Hall (hip) all got hurt and Cardinals TE Sage Surratt (ankle) left in the third quarter. O-lineman Christian Jones was carted off in the waning minutes with an unspecified injury.

Cardinals: Regular-season opener Sept. 8 at Buffalo.

Seahawks: Regular-season opener Sept. 8 at Seattle.

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

Denver Broncos tight end Nate Adkins (45) celebrates his touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals with Broncos wide receiver David Sills V (87) during the first half of a preseason NFL football game Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Denver Broncos wide receiver Troy Franklin, top, is tackled by Arizona Cardinals cornerback Darren Hall during the first half of a preseason NFL football game Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Broncos wide receiver Jalen Virgil (15) is unable to make a catch as Arizona Cardinals cornerback Michael Ojemudia, left, defends during the second half of a preseason NFL football game Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Desmond Ridder pauses on the sideline during the second half of a preseason NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

The Arizona Cardinals, right, and the Denver Broncos, left, line up for a play during the second half of a preseason NFL football game Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Denver Broncos quarterback Zach Wilson, center, celebrates his touchdown run against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of a preseason NFL football game Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

The Denver Broncos cheerleaders perform during the second half of a preseason NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Denver Broncos running back Audric Estime scores a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of a preseason NFL football game Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Clayton Tune, right, hands the ball off to Cardinals running back Tony Jones Jr. (37) during the first half of a preseason NFL football game Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray pauses on the sideline during the second half of a preseason NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix sits on the team bench during the second half of a preseason NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Arizona Cardinals cornerback Jaden Davis, left, breaks up a pass intended for Denver Broncos wide receiver Michael Bandy, right, during the secondd half of a preseason NFL football game Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Denver Broncos quarterback Zach Wilson, left, gets tackled just short of the endzone by Arizona Cardinals cornerback Bobby Price, right, during the first half of a preseason NFL football game Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Denver Broncos quarterback Jarrett Stidham signals to his players during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Broncos quarterback Zach Wilson runs with the ball against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of a preseason NFL football game Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

BANGKOK (AP) — Germany sailed two warships through the Taiwan Strait on Friday in its first transit of the disputed waters in more than two decades, as Berlin seeks to increase its defense engagement in the Asia-Pacific region.

China claims the self-governing democratic island of Taiwan as its own, and views such transits as provocative actions.

To challenge China's claims, the United States and allies including Australia, Canada, Britain and France, have regularly conducted “freedom of navigation” operations there, sailing through the strait to emphasize that it is international waters.

In its last naval deployment to the region in 2021-22, Germany had sought to avoid confrontation with China and attempted a diplomatic balancing act, seeking a port call in China, which Beijing denied, and by not sailing through the Taiwan Strait.

The government was widely criticized for this approach, and on this deployment to the Indo-Pacific, leaders decided to sail through the strait en route from South Korea to the Philippines in a widely-telegraphed move.

“The signal is a very simple one, which we have always maintained and I have always maintained,” German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius told reporters in Berlin. “International waters are international waters.”

Taiwan's Defense Ministry confirmed in a post on X that the frigate Baden-Wuerttemberg and support ship Frankfurt am Main had transited through the strait from north to south, adding that throughout the sail "the situation remained normal."

China, which often reacts sharply to American warships transiting the strait, was somewhat muted in its response.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters that for Beijing, “the Taiwan issue is not an issue of freedom of navigation, but an issue related to China's sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

She said that while China respects the navigation rights of all countries, “we firmly oppose provocations endangering China’s sovereignty and security in the name of freedom of navigation.”

The European Union three years ago embarked on a new strategy for the Asia-Pacific aimed at boosting economic, political and defense ties. Part of that has been focused on improving maritime security and ensuring safe passage through sea lanes.

It comes at a time when China is becoming increasingly assertive in pushing its maritime claims in the region, including on virtually the entire South China Sea and on Taiwan.

China maintains that Taiwan is part of its territory, and President Xi Jinping has not ruled out taking it by force.

China sends warplanes and warships near Taiwan on a near-daily basis in an attempt to intimidate its citizens and degrade the island’s defenses.

In response, Taiwan has extended the period of national military service to one year, building its own submarines and importing sophisticated new equipment from the U.S.

The vast majority of Taiwanese favor the current status of their island, which separated from mainland China amid civil war in 1949.

FILE - A Taiwan national flag flutters near the Taipei 101 building at the National Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall in Taipei, Taiwan, on May 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying, File)