GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Carson Palmer and Tyrann Mathieu have been probably the most impressive players in the Arizona Cardinals' training camp.
They excelled in the first preseason game, too.
So did Kansas City backup quarterback Chase Daniel.
In his first game since tearing an ACL last Nov. 9, Palmer was 4 for 4 for 77 yards, directing a seven-play, 80-yard touchdown drive to start the game before sitting down for the night. Palmer, who said he never took a single hit, threw over the middle to Andre Ellington on a 57-play to highlight the seven-play, 80-yard drive.
"It's great to be back and play on this grass again in front of our fans and in our stadium," Palmer said. "It's been a long time coming. It's been a lot of days since I saw this day in the future."
Arizona's Tyrann Mathieu intercepted Alex Smith's pass on the Chiefs' first possession to set up a field goal to put Arizona up 10-0. The Kansas City reserves scored the next 31 points.
Daniel was 17 for 29 for 189 yards in two quarters of play.
"The ones could have been sharper. ... The twos and threes played tremendous and they moved the ball," Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. "Chase did a nice job with that group."
On the big play, Palmer found Ellington through a tight window. Ellington, who nursed a foot injury most of last season and has missed most of training camp with a hamstring injury, scored on a 2-yard run on third-and-goal.
On Kansas City's first possession, Smith was under pressure when he threw the pass intended for open Jason Avant. The pass was well behind the intended receiver and Mathieu, who was slowed noticeably last season after coming off knee surgery, easily picked it off.
"Luckily, the quarterback threw the ball right to me so I didn't really have to break and get a good route to the receiver," Mathieu said. "He kind of just threw it right to me."
Smith said he had a defender "screaming in my face" and he sailed the ball behind the receiver.
Arizona coach Bruce Arians said he was "very, very pleased with the way our starters came out, displeased with our young guys."
Asked what he learned about his young players, Arizona said "Some can't tackle."
Smith completed 6 of 10 for 42 yards.
Chandler Catanzaro's 52-yard field goal try early in the fourth quarter was deflected by the outstretched hand of 6-foot-7 rookie David Irving.
Arizona rookie Rodney Gunter tackled quarterback Aaron Murray from the blind side for a safety.
Copyright 2015 by The Associated Press
