The first injury report of Week 9 between the Cardinals and Seahawks already reads like a headline in itself.
Arizona listed Budda Baker and Josh Sweat on rest days, two notable names to watch with the trade deadline looming next week, while Walter Nolen was back on the practice field. Seattle’s report came with its own weight: Sam Darnold is already out for Week 9, and Leonard Williams, Quenton Nelson and others also showed up on the list.
That sets the stage for a Cardinals team moving ahead with Gardner Minshew under center. It will be his first official start of 2026 after Arizona dealt Jacoby Brissett. Mike LaFleur said Minshew’s approach hasn’t changed.
“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. 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," Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur said of Minshew.
"He’s preparing like he’s the starter. He’s preparing like he’s going to be in there for whatever snap.
He supported Jacoby at a high level too. He’s been a great backup for him.
He’s been great for the room and (I) look forward to the challenge that we have this week with him.”
Seattle, meanwhile, is turning to Drew Lock for a second start against Arizona after ruling Darnold out. The Seahawks are 4-4 and trying to steady themselves after dropping three of their last four.
LaFleur also pointed to the challenge waiting in Seattle.
"We know what kind of challenges it's going to be. We're going into a hostile environment against arguably the best defense in football, an offense that we know firsthand can score points," LaFleur said of facing Seattle.
Both teams still have two practices left this week, Thursday and Friday, before final designations are made. After Friday’s session, players will be labeled out, questionable or doubtful.
Saturday could also matter. The Cardinals and Seahawks can each elevate up to two players from the practice squad, and Friday’s injury report may offer the clearest hint yet about who is trending toward playing.
Final inactives are due 90 minutes before kickoff Sunday, when teams must settle on their 48-player game day roster. For the 2:25 PM MST kickoff in Seattle, that deadline comes at 12:55 PM MST.
In Other News...
Cardinals QB Workout Suddenly Puts The Focus On A Bigger Move
The Cardinals spent part of the week taking a closer look at depth options, bringing in seven players for tryouts that included one quarterback, three running backs and three receivers. The group featured a mix of NFL experience, with names such as Ulysses Bentley, Jermar Jefferson, Elijah Tau-Tolliver, Joseph Manjack and Jamari Thrash among those getting a look as Arizona keeps working through roster churn.
The timing matters because the club is already dealing with injuries at receiver, and the quarterback workout adds another layer to what has been a busy stretch. Arizona has been active in scanning the market for help, and a routine tryout day suddenly feels more like part of a larger roster picture, one that could still shift before the dust settles. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Just Sent A Clear Message About Their Quarterback Plans
Arizonas quarterback room has been shifting for a while, and the latest move only sharpens the picture. Jacoby Brissett is on his way out, with Baltimore finalizing a trade to bring him in as it deals with injuries at the position. For the Cardinals, it is another sign that the pecking order has moved well beyond where Brissett stood when the season opened.
Brissett had already been pushed down to third string in Arizona, behind Gardner Minshew and Carson Beck, so the writing was on the wall even before the trade talks picked up. The deal is expected to be completed by the weekend, which means he will not be available for the Ravens Week 9 game, but it also leaves the Cardinals continuing to sort out what their quarterback depth chart looks like going forward. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Suddenly Have A Shot At A Defensive Star Arizona Hates To Lose
The trade deadline chatter around Arizona has started to turn from background noise into something more substantive, and Budda Baker is right in the middle of it. ESPNs Jeremy Fowler reported that the Cardinals safety is viewed around the league as a potential trade candidate, with teams such as the Buffalo Bills and Jacksonville Jaguars mentioned as possible suitors as clubs sort through their needs and Arizona weighs its own roster direction.
Baker is not the only name being floated, either, as the Cardinals contract situations and transition under center have put other veterans on the radar in recent days. Josh Sweat and Jacoby Brissett have also come up in the broader discussion, which is the kind of deadline buzz that can linger for a few days before it either hardens into action or fades away without a move. [Read more 🡒]