Carson Beck’s first NFL snap sequence gave the Cardinals exactly what they were hoping to see - and maybe a little more.
The third-round pick opened eyes in Thursday night’s Pro Football Hall of Fame Game, completing 15-of-19 passes for 188 yards and one touchdown in just over a half of work. That kind of debut doesn’t go unnoticed, and it immediately fueled national chatter about whether Beck could force his way into the starting conversation sooner rather than later.
For Arizona, though, the bigger takeaway is simpler: the rookie looked comfortable running the offense.
The Cardinals are back at State Farm Stadium for a short week before heading to Las Vegas on Thursday to face the Raiders, and head coach Mike LaFleur made it clear what he wants to see next from Beck.
"One day at a time. Like, let's see what we can do today.
That's in the past. What do we learn from it?
Because there was a lot of great learning experiences from that game in terms of stuff that us as an offense, us as a team, but each player could do a little bit better."
Beck’s work against Carolina helped Arizona finish strong, with the Cardinals scoring on their final three offensive drives of the half while he was under center. His poise, command, ball placement and willingness to work the ball through all three layers of the defense stood out.
LaFleur, though, isn’t interested in chasing the highs of one preseason outing. What he wants is the same thing every coach wants from a young quarterback: consistency.
"Consistency is the truest level of performance. To go out there and do it every single day, whether it be a preseason game, a practice, all those kind of things [is important]. And so you take it for what it is in that moment," said LaFleur.
He also pointed to the details that matter inside the offense - how Beck handled the huddle, his rhythm, his timing and the overall flow of the operation.
"You asked me about Carson. Carson operated the offense.
We got in and out of the huddle. He wasn't rushed.
Thought his eyes, his rhythm, his timing were for the most part in a good spot. And he did that for, I'd say a three and a half hour window for him.
It was a two hour window, right? Because he didn't play most of that second half.
Okay, learn from it, reset. Now let's get back to work, right?
And that's what he's going to do, and I can say that because I know what he's made of. I liked what that was, but now we got to go do it again, not in the game but in practice."
It’s still unclear how much Beck will see in Las Vegas, but with the Cardinals leaning toward resting their starters, the Miami/Georgia product should get another chance to stack reps.
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Cardinals Camp Just Raised A New Question About This QB Battle
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The quarterback battle, though, remains the main draw, and the latest scrimmage only sharpened the conversation. Love and Robinson put together strong showings, while Beck and Brissett had mixed results, leaving the competition open enough to keep people guessing after camps final public session. There was also an injury scare when Nolen left practice early, and the team did not get him back on the field, adding one more layer of concern to a stretch that already feels like it is tightening around a few key roster decisions. [Read more 🡒]
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The Cardinals came up just short in a 33-30 loss, but the larger storyline may be waiting a few weeks down the road. The LaFleur brothers are expected to meet again in the final week of the preseason, this time with both wearing headsets on opposite sidelines, turning a family moment into something with a little more competitive edge. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Finally Give Larry Fitzgerald The Honor Fans Wanted
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The timing adds another layer to a year already rich with celebration for Fitzgerald, who was recently inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Team owner Michael Bidwill pointed to Fitzgeralds professionalism and his impact on both the organization and the community, and now Cardinals fans will get one more chance to honor a player many felt had already earned this kind of place in team history. [Read more 🡒]