Arizona hands the offense to third-round pick Carson Beck for Sunday's clash with Los Angeles after Gardner Minshew undergoes elbow surgery.
The Arizona Cardinals are preparing to hand the offense to rookie quarterback Carson Beck, who will make his first NFL start when the team faces the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. Head coach Mike LaFleur confirmed the decision Wednesday following an injury that has severely depleted Arizona's quarterback depth. Beck steps into the lineup after veteran Gardner Minshew II suffered a UCL injury in his throwing arm during Sunday's loss to the Seattle Seahawks. The Cardinals placed Minshew on injured reserve Tuesday, and LaFleur confirmed the veteran will undergo surgery and miss the rest of the season.
This promotion marks a major step in the third-round pick's transition from college football to the pros. He spent the first eight weeks of the season as Arizona's emergency third quarterback, leaving him inactive on game days while he developed behind established veterans. His role shifted last week when the Cardinals traded Jacoby Brissett to the Baltimore Ravens, elevating the rookie to the backup spot against Seattle. That move gave him valuable practice reps and brought him closer to a starting role that has now arrived sooner than expected. Despite his lack of NFL game action, the Cardinals believe his collegiate background has equipped him to handle the job.
Beck brings considerable experience from six college seasons at Georgia and Miami, where he appeared in 55 games. His final collegiate start came in January's College Football Playoff National Championship, a 27-21 loss to Indiana. One round earlier, Beck guided the Hurricanes past Ole Miss in the CFP semifinal at the Fiesta Bowl played at State Farm Stadium, the same venue where he will make his NFL debut Sunday. LaFleur believes competing in those high-pressure environments will help Beck adjust to the speed of the pro game. The coach expressed confidence in the rookie's poise, encouraging him to play freely and trust his instincts rather than be overwhelmed by the moment.
Arizona's coaching staff has already noticed growth in Beck's game since his workload increased. According to quarterbacks coach Matt Schaub, the rookie took on heavier duties running the scout-team offense after becoming Minshew's backup. Those extra snaps allowed Beck to work through pocket movements and learn how to react when plays break down. Schaub noted that Beck approached the extra work seriously rather than simply going through the motions. Although a minor training camp injury previously cost him valuable practice time, he has steadily regained momentum. Schaub added that Beck's confidence has never wavered, describing him as naturally composed.
The Cardinals are also encouraged by Beck's familiarity with several key pass-catchers. Earlier this season, he spent significant time throwing to practice-squad receivers who could play major roles on Sunday. Arizona's active wide receiver group currently consists of Simi Fehoko, Reggie Virgil, Devin Duvernay, and Harrison Wallace III, who have combined for just eight catches all year. That lack of production creates an added hurdle for a young quarterback. However, the tight end room offers a much steadier safety net. Trey McBride, Elijah Higgins, and Teagan Quitoriano have combined for 94 receptions, giving Beck reliable targets to help stabilize the passing attack. LaFleur believes Beck's grasp of their routes and communication signals will ease the transition, even if regular-season game speed is a major step up from practice.
To reinforce the position behind Beck, Arizona added veteran Josh Johnson and Joey Aguilar to the active roster Tuesday. Johnson brings extensive NFL experience and previously worked with LaFleur during stints with the San Francisco 49ers in 2020 and the New York Jets in 2021. Aguilar, meanwhile, is a player Arizona scouted heavily during the pre-draft process. LaFleur noted that the team considered signing him earlier, but drafting Beck left little room on the depth chart until Minshew's injury forced a change of plans.
Sunday's matchup against the Rams will test whether Beck's behind-the-scenes work can translate into NFL production. The circumstances are far from ideal given Arizona's injuries and thin receiver corps, yet the coaching staff is confident putting the ball in his hands. LaFleur emphasized that Beck will take all the first-team reps this week to get ready. For Arizona, the immediate goal is to give Beck enough support to compete while evaluating what the third-round pick can offer as a potential long-term piece of the franchise.