“Arizona Cardinals Rookie Jordan Burch’s Preseason Debut Flew Under Radar—Yet His Relentless Pressure and Technique Herald a Disruptive Force”
They say that numbers tell the story. But sometimes, the most meaningful chapters are written between the box‑score lines. That was precisely the case with Arizona Cardinals rookie Jordan Burch in Saturday night’s preseason opener. A cursory glance at the stats would leave you thinking he had a quiet debut—one tackle, no sacks—but that narrative couldn’t be more misleading. Burch may have been silent on the stat sheet, but he roared between the lines, exerting influence with his presence, technique, and moments of near‑game‑changing disruption.
At 6-foot-4 and 280 pounds, the Oregon stand-and‑deliver pass rusher brought with him a compelling blend of size, power, and fluid mechanics. Now with the Cardinals, he displayed exactly why he was worth a third-round pick. During the opener against the Kansas City Chiefs, Burch repeatedly blew past offensive linemen, employing a mix of bull rushes, high-low moves, and spins that disrupted the rhythm of the Kansas City offense.
There were at least two plays where Burch beat his blocker clean and reached the quarterback—but unfortunately, penalties flagged on Arizona’s secondary wiped those moments off the box score . Still, for those watching attentively, his impact was unmistakable: the quarterback was consistently under duress—a testament to Burch’s ability to generate pressure.
Head coach Jonathan Gannon acknowledged the rookie’s presence: “I did see him win some rushes,… I know LJ had the sack, but their quarterback seemed like he was under duress a little bit. So that was good.”. That acknowledgment sums it up: even when not in the stat sheet, Burch’s impact was felt, and felt strongly.
From his own locker‑room reflections, it’s clear Burch came into the game with the right mindset. “In practice, you can’t really get too close to the quarterback. So coming out, being able to let it fly… just work your moves, have fun and run around.” For someone who “hasn’t been able to hit a quarterback since January 1,” that adrenaline-fueled approach yielded confidence that translated into real-time pressure.
What makes Burch’s performance feel even more promising is the depth of that quiet dominance. He wasn’t a one-move wonder; he was mixing techniques, reading the line, leveraging his tools. That’s not something all rookies can do in Week 1 of the preseason. And while he’s still learning, he’s doing so from veterans who’ve been there. Burch shared that he’s constantly asking questions and learning from guys like Josh Sweat and Zaven Collins about footwork, steps, and pass-rush strategy .
Weak box‑score stats notwithstanding, the early signs are clear: Burch’s stock is rising. One recap of the game highlighted just how bright that trajectory looks. “Man oh man. Monti Ossenfort is taking swings and Burch in game one looks like a gem. … getting Burch in the building, letting him learn, grow and then taking over halfway through year two or to start year three would be a huge win.” It wasn’t hyperbole—it was a recognition of elite potential.
If the Cardinals defense is going to evolve into the kind of disruptive force their draft haul promised, it needs edge friends who can get to the quarterback, collapse the pocket, and demand attention from offenses. Burch may still be dressing in a rookie jersey, but he played with a presence that says he belongs at the table.
Predicting what the rest of the preseason holds is premature—but one thing stands: Jordan Burch didn’t need the numbers to announce himself. He arrived with intent, winning battles, unsettling quarterbacks, and showcasing the kind of technique and motor that has every reason to excite the Cardinals’ front office and fan base alike.
In a preseason full of rookies flashing, Burch’s performance may have flown under the radar—but his pressure, poise, and potential were anything but invisible.
