The Arizona Cardinals named Gardner Minshew their starting quarterback on Monday, head coach Mike LaFleur announced, pushing Jacoby Brissett down to third string a day after Minshew rallied Arizona past Dallas in overtime.
LaFleur said Minshew will start Week 9 against the Seattle Seahawks and will remain the starter “moving forward.” Rookie Carson Beck will serve as the backup, while Brissett becomes the team’s emergency third-string option.
The Main Development
The decision follows Minshew’s performance in Arizona’s 33-30 overtime win over the Cowboys on Sunday. He entered the game late in the third quarter with the Cardinals trailing 17-3 and replacing Brissett, then directed four straight touchdown drives to flip the outcome.
Minshew finished 17 of 23 for 188 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. Brissett, who started the game, went 10 of 23 for 119 yards with no touchdowns and one interception.
What It Means For Brissett
Brissett opened the season as Arizona’s Week 1 starter and had his contract reworked in July following a training camp standoff, landing a one-year deal with $15.5 million guaranteed. He is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent after this season.
Moving Brissett to the bottom of the depth chart signals he is not part of Arizona’s plans at quarterback for the rest of the year, according to Sporting News. The timing, just over a week before the Nov. 10 trade deadline, could put him in play as a trade chip, per the outlet. The Cardinals have not announced any trade talks involving Brissett.
Context On Minshew And Beck
Minshew, 30, signed a one-year deal with Arizona in the offseason. A sixth-round pick out of Washington State, he has also played for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Philadelphia Eagles, Indianapolis Colts, Las Vegas Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs during his career.
Beck, a third-round pick in the 2026 draft out of Miami, moves up to backup duty behind Minshew for the Seattle game.
What’s Next
Minshew is set to make his first start under the new depth chart when the Cardinals host the Seahawks in Week 9. Arizona’s win over Dallas came on Nov. 1, and the team has not indicated whether any roster move involving Brissett will come before the Nov. 10 trade deadline.
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