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Former Northwestern RB Shines With 2 TDs for Cardinals in NFL Preseason
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- Former Northwestern RB Shines With 2 TDs for Cardinals in NFL Preseason
Former Northwestern running back Evan Hull saved his best performance of the preseason for last.
Hull delivered an impressive performance in the Arizona Cardinals' preseason finale Friday night, rushing for 107 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries while adding 11 receiving yards on one catch in a 42-38 loss to the Green Bay Packers .
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The performance gave Hull 118 total yards from scrimmage and provided a major opportunity to make his case with the Cardinals' 53-man roster decisions approaching.
Hull's biggest play came in the second quarter when he broke loose for a 47-yard touchdown run.
Aug 28, 2026; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Arizona Cardinals running back Evan Hull (43) rushes for a touchdown during the second quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
The play showcased the explosiveness Hull can bring to an NFL backfield. According to Next Gen Stats, Hull reached a maximum speed of 21.62 mph on the touchdown, the fastest speed recorded by a ball carrier during the 2026 NFL preseason.
Hull finished the night averaging 6.7 yards per carry and added a second touchdown on a 1-yard run in the third quarter. His performance made him Arizona's leading rusher in the preseason finale and gave the Cardinals plenty to evaluate before final roster decisions.
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For Hull, the performance is another reminder of the talent he showed during his time at Northwestern.
The former Wildcat finished his Northwestern career with 2,417 rushing yards, 851 receiving yards and 22 total touchdowns.
He was particularly effective during his final season in Evanston, rushing for 913 yards while adding 546 receiving yards and establishing himself as one of the nation's most productive dual-threat running backs.
Hull was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, but his path to establishing himself at the professional level has not been easy.
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Injuries and roster changes have limited his opportunities, making every preseason snap important as he continues trying to prove he can be a valuable NFL running back.
That made Friday's performance particularly significant.
Hull entered the preseason competing for opportunities in a crowded Cardinals running back room. He had limited production through Arizona's first three preseason games, rushing for 82 yards on 22 carries while adding 18 receiving yards.
Then, when given an increased workload in the preseason finale, Hull took advantage.
His 107 rushing yards were a clear jump from his previous preseason performances, and his two touchdowns gave Arizona another glimpse of his ability to create explosive plays.
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The performance does not guarantee Hull will make Arizona's initial 53-man roster. The Cardinals still have difficult decisions to make at running back, and Hull could potentially remain in the organization's plans through the practice squad or draw interest from another team if he is released.
Still, Hull gave himself something positive to build on.
After dealing with injuries, limited opportunities and roster uncertainty throughout his NFL career, finishing the preseason with 118 total yards and two touchdowns is exactly the type of performance that can keep a player's NFL opportunity alive.
Now, Hull will have to wait and see where he fits once the Cardinals finalize their roster.
But if Friday's performance showed anything, it is that the former Northwestern star still has plenty of explosiveness left in his game.
