The Arizona Cardinals have turned the page at quarterback, and they did it with more than one move.
Head coach Mike LaFleur confirmed that Gardner Minshew will start after his strong showing in Week 8, when he stepped in for Jacoby Brissett and helped Arizona rally from a two-score hole in the fourth quarter before winning in overtime against the Dallas Cowboys. The comeback sealed the Cardinals’ third win of the season and gave the team enough reason to make the switch official.
“I think he kind of showed all of us in terms of him going out there being the competitor that he is. Doesn't shock me, obviously.
I mean, the production was pretty wild in terms of the amount of points and just moving up and down the field. But he's a competitor, and he's always prepared,” LaFleur said of making the change to Minshew.
The reshuffling doesn’t stop there. Rookie third-round pick Carson Beck has been elevated to the No. 2 job, which pushes Brissett into the emergency quarterback role on game days. Beck had been inactive all season as Arizona’s QB3, so the move gives him a bigger role and more chances to develop.
“Just think that's the right thing to do,” LaFleur added on moving Beck to backup status. “Continue his development in terms of getting a little bit more reps with the scout team and all that.
He's week-to-week in terms of [his health], he's feeling really good right now. So thought that was the best thing to do.”
The timing makes the quarterback room look very different heading into Week 9 against the Seattle Seahawks. It also puts Brissett’s summer negotiations with Arizona in a sharper light after a rough start to the season.
LaFleur said the conversation with Brissett wasn’t easy.
“That's not easy. It's not a fun phone call.
There's no book for that,” LaFleur said on telling Brissett the news. Arizona also informed other position players so nobody was caught off guard.
He added, “Obviously there's a human element to it. I have a lot of respect for Jacoby the person.
I have a lot of respect for Jacoby the player. Like I told you guys yesterday, that was not all on him.
This was collective. But the position that those guys sign up for, we know the deal.
We needed a spark, and obviously Gardner gave us one.”
For the Cardinals, the quarterback depth chart has changed fast.
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