The Arizona Cardinals have completely shaken up their quarterback depth chart following a dramatic comeback victory over the Dallas Cowboys. Head coach Mike LaFleur announced major changes that elevate Gardner Minshew to the starting role while altering the positions of both Carson Beck and Jacoby Brissett.
A New Quarterback Hierarchy
Before Sunday’s game, Brissett served as the starter with Minshew as his backup and rookie Carson Beck acting as the emergency third-string quarterback. On Monday, LaFleur revealed a new order that places Minshew at the helm, moves Beck up to the No. 2 spot, and demotes Brissett to the third-string position.
While switching starting quarterbacks came as a surprise, the decision to drop Brissett—who started for the majority of the last two seasons—to the emergency third spot is a major development. Brissett performed adequately in terms of statistics during the first seven games of the season, but he struggled against the Cowboys before Minshew took over.
Minshew sparked a dramatic turnaround by completing 73.9% of his passes and throwing three touchdowns, helping erase a 27-17 deficit in the final minutes to secure a 33-30 overtime win that brought the Cardinals’ record to 3-5. Minshew, 30, entered the NFL as a 2019 sixth-round pick and has played for Jacksonville, Philadelphia, Indianapolis, Las Vegas, and Kansas City before arriving in Arizona, earning a Pro Bowl selection in 2023 with the Colts.
Beck, selected in the third round of the 2026 draft, flashed potential during the preseason by completing 15 of 19 passes for 188 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions, following a prolific college career at Miami that concluded in the College Football Playoff National Championship.
What Lies Ahead for Brissett and the Cardinals
Minshew is scheduled to make his first start for Arizona next Sunday in Seattle against the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks. Meanwhile, LaFleur remained non-committal when asked about Brissett’s long-term future with the franchise, a stance that often signals a potential trade.
The Baltimore Ravens immediately emerge as a logical trade partner after losing Lamar Jackson to a potential season-ending injury. With backup Tyler Huntley also sidelined due to a toe injury sustained against the Bills, undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano remains the only healthy quarterback on Baltimore’s roster.
A deal between Arizona and Baltimore appears straightforward on paper given the Ravens’ urgent need and the Cardinals’ surplus at the position, provided both organizations agree on terms prior to the November 10 trade deadline. However, the Cardinals must temper their expectations regarding compensation, as the Ravens are unlikely to surrender significant assets for a player who just lost his starting job, and analysts suggest a late-round pick exchange could represent fair value for Brissett’s disappointing tenure in Arizona.
