Main Story

Arizona will start rookie Carson Beck against the Rams on Sunday, after Gardner Minshew’s UCL injury and Jacoby Brissett’s trade left the 3-6 Cardinals without their first two quarterbacks. Beck faces a tough debut behind an injury-depleted offensive line and a severely weakened receiving corps.

By the Numbers
  • Arizona is 3-6.
  • Beck was drafted No. 65 overall.
  • Trey McBride leads the NFL with 73 receptions.
  • Beck completed 15 of 19 passes for 188 yards and a touchdown in his preseason appearance.
Yes, But

Beck showed promise in the Hall of Fame Game, including a touchdown connection with Simi Fehoko. But that preseason showing offers limited evidence of how he’ll handle a regular-season start against the Rams, especially with so many key weapons sidelined or gone.

State of Play
  • Minshew is on injured reserve; Brissett is now with Baltimore.
  • Arizona’s top wideout, Michael Wilson, is out for the season, while Marvin Harrison Jr. was traded and several other receivers are injured.
  • Left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. and running back Jeremiyah Love are also on injured reserve.
What’s Next

Beck makes his first NFL start Sunday against Los Angeles. The matchup also reunites him with Raiders rookie Fernando Mendoza, who is set to make his first start after the two faced off in the national championship game.

Bottom Line

Beck’s debut is a high-stakes audition under unusually difficult conditions: Arizona needs answers at quarterback, but its injuries and roster changes will make his performance harder to judge.