general
Minshew Mania: Cardinals tab Gardner Minshew as starter, make other QB changes after Week 8
Gardner Minshew named new starter, Jacoby Brissett demoted to third string; Carson Beck moves to No. 2 spot
Carson Beck
QB · ARI · 23 yrs · exp 0 · Miami (FL)
Status
- Game status
- Active
- Injury
- Out
Keep Trade Cut (SF TEP)
From latest snapshot · trend vs ~7d prior when data allows.
Value
2,763
Rank
#166
Pos rank
#30
7d trend
—
Value history (90d)
One snapshot point per calendar day (shown in your timezone).
Latest: Sep 7, 2026 · 2,763
News
Stories linked to this player — newest first.
general
Cardinals name Gardner Minshew starting quarterback, Carson Beck his backup
Minshew Mania is back in business. Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur confirmed in his Monday press conference that Gardner Minshew will serve as the team’s starting quarterback after he led a dramatic comeback victory over the Cowboys. Moreover, rookie Carson Beck will be the backup quarterback, with Jacoby Brissett relegated to emergency third QB. “Just think that’s the right thing to do — continue [Beck’s] development in terms of getting a little bit more reps with the scout team and all that ,” LaFleur said of making Beck the backup. “He’s week-to-week in terms of, he’s feeling really good right now. So, thought that was the best thing to do.” While Brissett becomes an obvious trade candidate as the third QB, LaFleur did not directly answer when asked if he’s expecting Brissett to be with the club beyond the Nov. 10 trade deadline. “Only focused on this week,” LaFleur said. “He’s fully a part of this team and excited to have him still be the teammate I know he is.” Brissett was benched on Sunday after completing 10-of-23 passes for 119 yards with an interception. In eight games this season, he’s completed 63.3 percent of his passes for 1,719 yards with 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Sunday was Minshew’s first appearance of the season. He completed 17-of-23 passes for 188 yards with three touchdowns. Minshew’s next assignment will be to face the Seahawks in Seattle on Sunday afternoon
general
Cardinals name Gardner Minshew starting quarterback, Carson Beck his backup
Jacoby Brissett, who started the first eight games, will now serve as Arizona's emergency third QB
QB · ARI
transaction
FA: Carson Beck dropped
sleeper-tx-free_agent+1 story · 30dSource unavailable
Drops: Carson Beck
analyst
Gardner Minshew II Enters Game for Cardinals Against Cowboys
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Gardner Minshew II has entered Sunday's Week 8 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys in place of Jacoby Brissett, according to Theo Mackie of The Arizona Republic. Brissett struggled during the first half, throwing an interception and completing eight of his first 20 passes for 104 yards through the early stages of the third quarter. The Cardinals entered Sunday with Brissett firmly established as their starter, despite speculation about a potential quarterback change following a disappointing 2-5 start. Minshew is Arizona's primary backup, while rookie Carson Beck is inactive as the emergency third quarterback. It remains unclear whether Brissett has been benched or if another issue prompted the substitution
general
Cardinals RB Jeremiyah Love limited in his return to practice
Cardinals rookie running back Jeremiyah Love returned to practice Wednesday, getting in limited work. Love had not practiced since Oct. 9 because of a sprained left ankle, which kept him out the past two games. The third overall pick injured his right ankle in the preseason. Bam Knight and Tyler Allgeier have replaced Love in the backfield. Love has 67 carries for 245 yards and a touchdown and 11 catches for 36 yards and a touchdown. The Cardinals practiced without running back Tyler Allgeier (toe), safety Budda Baker (rest), outside linebacker Zaven Collins (illness), right guard Jon Gaines II (ankle), defensive lineman Walter Nolen III (ankle), offensive lineman Isaac Seumalo (rest), outside linebacker Josh Sweat (rest), right tackle Elijah Wilkinson (knee) and linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. (rest/knee). Quarterback Carson Beck (back), cornerback Kei’Trel Clark (illness), cornerback Max Melton (knee), wide receiver Michael Wilson (ribs) and safety Andrew Wingard (knee) were limited
QB · ARI
QB · ARI
general
Mike LaFleur: Jacoby Brissett is the starter, offensive issues are collective
After defeating the division-rival Rams in Week 6, the Cardinals extended their home losing streak on Sunday with a 30-16 loss to the Broncos. It was another unremarkable performance on offense, which has put the spotlight on Arizona’s quarterback, Jacoby Brissett. But Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur reiterated in his Monday press conference that the team is sticking with the veteran as QB1. “Like I told you guys, he’s still the starter,” LaFleur said, via transcript from the team. “It’s collective. Again, if the ball was just stagnant for 60 minutes and you couldn’t even cross the 50-yard line, it’d be one thing. We’ve been down inside the 10-yard line 10 times over the last two games, so the ball is moving, but we have to finish jobs. Again, that starts with me but that’s a collective effort. The players have to go execute and I have to put them in better positions and give them the clarity to go do so. When they do have that clarity, they have to make the plays. We know that. We’re not going to shy away from that. “We know we have to finish the job when we’re down there, and I don’t even think we’re having these conversations right now [if we had].” Brissett is currently leading the league with 282 passing attempts, which likely has to do with the Cardinals playing from behind so much. He’s completed 65 percent of his passes for 1,600 yards with 10 touchdowns and six interceptions in seven games. Perhaps complicating the matter is that Carson Beck is dealing with a back injury. It doesn’t seem like LaFleur is particularly inclined to turn to Beck at this time anyway, but the rookie missed two practices last week with the issue. “It just kind of flared up on him, honestly,” LaFleur said. “He just had a little bit of a back spasm. Again, when you’re torquing the way these guys torque, that’s not fun. I don’t know if anyone’s ever had back spasms here, but they suck.” The Cardinals will be on the road to face the Cowboys in Week 8. Their bye isn’t until Week 14
general
Broncos will be without Pat Surtain II for third straight game
The Broncos will be without cornerback Pat Surtain II again on Sunday. Surtain was listed as questionable to play against the Cardinals after returning to practice this week, but he landed on the team’s inactive list on Sunday afternoon. It is the third straight game that Surtain has missed with an ankle injury. Quarterback Sam Ehlinger, safety Talanoa Hufanga, offensive lineman Kage Casey, tight end Dallen Bentley, defensive lineman Jordan Jackson, and defensive lineman Tyler Onyedim are the other inactives for Denver. Safety Budda Baker is active for the Cardinals after being tagged as questionable due to a groin injury and an illness. Cornerback Max Melton was also questionable and he will not play due to a knee injury. Running back Jeremiyah Love, offensive lineman Jon Gaines, safety Andrew Wingard, and defensive lineman Walter Nolen were ruled out on Friday. Quarterback Carson Beck and offensive lineman Albert Reese are the other inactives
RB · ARI
QB · ARI
general
Jeremiyah Love ruled out for Week 7 vs. Broncos
Jeremiyah Love, a top young offensive player for the Cardinals, is ruled out for Week 7 due to an ankle injury
general
Trent McDuffie inactive for Rams-Cardinals
Trent McDuffie is inactive for the Rams game against the Cardinals
general
Is it Carson Beck time in Arizona? When Cardinals need to replace Jacoby Brissett with the rookie QB
The Arizona Cardinals have struggled with Jacoby Brissett as their starting quarterback, and Carson Beck may be a viable replacement
general
Cardinals will discuss making Carson Beck active on game day
The Cardinals are 2-15 with Jacoby Brissett as their quarterback in the past two seasons, with a point differential of minus-194. Brissett, though, will remain the starter for the foreseeable future. “When it’s going good, it’s going good , and then it’s a three-and-out machine,” Cardinals coach Mike LaFleur told Arizona Sports. “There’s really nowhere in between right now for us. We got to figure out how to do all the good stuff better.” Brissett has played all 351 snaps this season, staying in the game to the finish even in Sunday’s 45-21 blowout loss to the Lions. It would have seemed a perfect time to play Carson Beck, but the Cardinals have made the rookie quarterback inactive. As such, Beck can play only if both Brissett and Gardner Minshew are injured. The Raiders got rookie Fernando Mendoza some snaps the past two weeks, and LaFleur was asked whether the Cardinals might think about keeping Beck active on game day for that purpose. “You can only have so many people up [on game day]. . . . It’s hard to put three quarterbacks up,” LaFleur said on Arizona Sports. “Right now, Gardner is our backup.” During his media availability, LaFleur said the Caridnals will have conversations on Tuesday about whether to make the third-round pick active against the Rams. “If we think that’s what is best, [then that’s what we’ll do],” LaFleur said, via Darren Urban of the team website
QB · ARI
QB · ARI
general
Mike LaFleur on possible QB change after latest loss: "Jacoby [Brissett] was not the problem"
The Cardinals lost their franchise-record ninth straight home game on Sunday, in blowout fashion to the Lions. After landing on the wrong side of a 45-21 final score, first-year coach Mike LaFleur was asked whether he’s considering a quarterback change. “I’ve got way too many other things, you know, that I need to correct right now,” LaFleur told reporters. “Jacoby [Brissett] was not the problem. We were a problem as a team today. And, again, that starts with me.” The Cardinals, after winning in Week 1 at the Chargers, have now lost four in a row. The Cardinals last won at home on September 14, 2025. Next week, the face the Rams in L.A. Then, the Broncos comes to town. After that, the Cardinals visit the Cowboys. Then, the Cardinals go to Seattle. After that, the Rams visit. After that, the Cardinals play the Chiefs in Kansas City. That 1-4 record could end up being 1-10 before the Commanders arrive in Week 12. With Arizona’s bye not coming until Week 14, the time could be coming for a flip from Brissett to rookie Carson Beck, if only to let the Cardinals evaluate whether they should ride with Beck in 2027 or target a quarterback with what could be a top-five pick in the 2027 draft
QB · ARI
transaction
Waiver: Carson Beck added, Jaydon Blue dropped
sleeper-tx-waiver+2 stories · 30dSource unavailable
Adds: Carson Beck. Drops: Jaydon Blue
QB · ARI
transaction
FA: Carson Beck dropped
sleeper-tx-free_agent+2 stories · 30dSource unavailable
Drops: Carson Beck
general
All 2026 quarterback competitions went to the older players
Training camp opened with four, and potentially five, NFL quarterback competitions. In the end, all five jobs went to the older of the two primary contenders. The first decision came in Minnesota, where Kyler Murray prevailed over 2024 top-10 selection J.J. McCarthy in the first competition to be resolved, before the first preseason game. The backup job there also has apparently gone to the older player, with Carson Wentz seemingly leapfrogging McCarthy. (The Vikings have yet to release their Week 1 depth chart.) Minnesota will enter the season with three former high first-round picks in their quarterback room. Murray was No. 1 overall in 2019, and Wentz was the second overall pick in 2016. The next decision was made by the Browns, where Deshaun Watson was made the starter (at least for Week 1 and likely Week 2) two weeks ago today, over 2025 fifth-rounder Shedeur Sanders. Watson was the 12th overall pick in 2017. Last week, the Raiders finally declared that Kirk Cousins, who entered the league as a fourth-round pick in 2012, would start Week 1 over Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick in 2026. And now the Falcons have gone with Tua Tagovailoa, pick No. 5 in 2020, over Michael Penix Jr., the eighth overall selection in 2024. That one feels even more tenuous than Watson in Cleveland; the Falcons were hoping Penix would be ready to go. Ultimately, they decided he wasn’t — and Tua got the nod over Cooper Rush (who’s technically older than Tua). The fifth competition never became one, because Jacoby Brissett got a new deal done before a hold in gave Gardner Minshew or Carson Beck a chance to learn the new offense and potentially supplant Brissett. In many situations, winning the starting job to start the season means securing the privilege of eventually being benched. That’s a very real possibility for Watson, Cousins, and Tagovailoa. The safest of them all is Murray, who was likely signed to be the starter — and who is playing for a team that wants to have the same quarterback in place for all 17 regular-season games
general
Packers sign QB Kedon Slovis to the practice squad
Pro Football TalkSource ↗
Packers sign QB Kedon Slovis to the practice squad, joining Jordan Love and Tyrod Taylor
QB · ARI
QB · ARI
general
Carson Beck will return to practice as a full participant this week
Carson Beck to return to practice as a full participant this week
QB · ARI
general
Carson Beck will return to practice as a full participant this week
The Cardinals are getting one of their young offensive players back on the field this week
general
Cardinals place James Conner on IR among their moves to 53
The Cardinals reached 53 players on Sunday afternoon. Their moves included placing running back James Conner on injured reserve with a designation to return. He will miss at least the first four games before returning to game action as he works his way back from last season’s ankle injury. The Cardinals also announced the release of 2023 second-round pick linebacker BJ Ojulari, who has not been the same since a serious training camp knee injury in 2024. Eku Leota made the team over Ojulari. Veteran cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting was also released, a sign that slot starter Garrett Williams is nearing his return. Williams was recently removed from the active/PUP list after coming back from an Achilles injury. The Cardinals kept three quarterbacks for the first time in a long time, with Jacoby Brissett, Gardner Minshew II and Carson Beck making the roster. The Cardinals released or waived LB Eugene Asante, S Devyn Bobby, TE Shawn Bowman, LB Elliott Brown, P Jack Browning, S Hudson Clark, CB Elijah Culp, OL Ka’ena De Cambra, TE Rivaldo Fairweather, DL Cam Horsley, RB Evan Hull, OL Demontrey Jacobs, OL Christian Jones, CB Elijah Jones, CB Kalen King, DL Brodric Martin-Rhodes, CB Quinton Newsome, S Isaiah Oliver, LB Owen Pappoe, OL Matt Pryor, TE Teagan Quitoriano, LB Cam Robertson, OL Valentin Senn (expected international exemption), QB Kedon Slovis, WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette, DL Kevion’ta Spears, RB Tre Stewart, CB Starling Thomas V, OL Oli Udoh, WR Tre Wallace, DL Damonic Williams and DL Jonah Williams. Like Conner, defensive lineman Zach Carter (knee) was placed on IR with a designation to return. Tight end Tip Reiman will begin the season on reserve/PUP. Safety Josh Minkins was waived with an injury designation
Data comes from cached Sleeper and KTC snapshots. Values update when the sync jobs run.