Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt declined to name a starting quarterback Friday night, but his team’s preseason win over the Oakland Raiders may have taken the decision out of his hands.

After leading the team on an opening touchdown drive by completing all three passes on his first series, Kevin Kolb was sacked three times, tossed three incompletions, was flagged for intentional grounding and took a safety in the end zone on a sack on his other three series. John Skelton played just one series, completing all three passes and tossing a touchdown in a 31-27 Arizona win at University of Phoenix Stadium.

If Whisenhunt hadn’t declared this competition wide open, he might be able to rationalize Kolb’s three subpar preseason performances because his protection has been horrible. Experimental right tackle D’Anthony Batiste was a turnstile, reserve running back Javarris James whiffed on another block and the Raiders sustained pressure on stunts and off the edge.

But the inexplicable trend that’s developed is that the protection improves when John Skelton enters the game.

It’s not fair that Kolb has been on the run so much in the preseason’s first three games. It’s also notable to mention that Skelton struggles mightily at training camp with his reads and his accuracy. But when you compare the two quarterbacks side by side, it's impossible to argue that Kolb should be the starter based on his body of work.

With only one meaningful preseason game left (in which Skelton will start), we’ll know soon what is already apparent to those who’ve been watching.Levi Brown

Levi Brown’s injury: Starting left tackle Levi Brown left Friday night’s game in the first half with a triceps injury. Coach Ken Whisenhunt said he would know more about the injury on Saturday.

Brown’s backup is undrafted D.J. Young, who didn’t appear in a game last season and spent all but one week on the practice squad. The team could also use Jeremy Bridges at left tackle and would likely make that move in the event that Brown’s injury is serious. Bridges played left tackle in 2009 after starter Mike Gandy got hurt. If he does switch, Batiste or rookie Bobby Massie would likely man the right side.

For all the criticism Brown has endured since the Cards infamously drafted him ahead of Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson, his loss would be a major blow to the offense and those who ripped him will figure that out if he's gone.

“He’s out there on an island all the time,” center and good friend Lyle Sendlein said. “If we lose him, people will understand how much he does.”

Three who improved their stock

1. RB Ryan Williams: Almost a year to the day after he tore his patellar tendon in a  2011 preseason game, Williams returned to the lineup and gained 25 yards on five carries, including a 15-yard touchdown run. The Cards will bring back Williams slowly, but he looks like a game-changer.

2. S Justin Bethel: The Cards’ speedy sixth-round pick continues to show up on special teams. He blocked a second-quarter punt and returned it 19 yards for a TD, adding another chapter to his college specialty. Bethel had a Big South Conference-record nine blocked kicks in college (Presbyterian) and blocked a field goal for the Cardinals in the Hall of Fame Game.

3. ILB Stewart Bradley: Bradley was effective in run blitzes and stuffs, and he also recovered a fumble, made four tackles and a QB hit to take full advantage of starter Paris Lenon’s injury absence.

Three who hurt their stock

1. QB Kevin Kolb: He started out a strong in a game where he had to show something to his growing legion of detractors and, more important, to his coaches and teammates. He led the Cards on a touchdown drive, completing all three of his attempts for 22 yards. But the next three series were disastrous as detailed above.

2. RT D’Anthony Batiste: The Cards coaching staff wanted to see what he could do without much help in the starting lineup. Batiste was beaten badly a couple of times, leading to Kolb sacks. This can’t be the answer at right tackle, but if Levi Brown’s injury is serious, the Cards may have to choose between Batiste and rookie Massie.

3. CB William Gay: The current starter on the depth chart got picked on early in the game and made just one tackle. We can’t help wondering if Gay has the top spot simply because he played for defensive coordinator Ray Horton in Pittsburgh. We haven’t seen much that impresses.

Sitting out: RB Beanie Wells (knee), RB LaRod Stephens-Howling (groin), WR Andre Roberts (neck), ILB Paris Lenon (ankle), OLB O’Brien Schofield (knee), TE Jeff King (quad), FB Jared Crank (neck), CB Greg Toler (knee), CB Michael Adams (hamstring).

What's next: The team will hold their final training-camp practices in Flagstaff on Monday and Tuesday and then head to Tennessee for a preseason game against the Titans on Thursday. That game will mark the final significant evaluation for quarterbacks Kolb and Skelton and the majority of players still battling for starting jobs.

For more news and analysis from Cardinals blogger Craig Morgan, follow @CBSSportsNFLARI on Twitter.