The Arizona Cardinals reshuffled their quarterback depth chart Monday, naming Gardner Minshew the starter a day after he helped deliver a comeback victory over the Dallas Cowboys. Head coach Mike LaFleur also promoted rookie Carson Beck to the backup role, moving previous starter Jacoby Brissett to the emergency third-string position.
The changes reverse the order Arizona carried into Sunday's game, when Brissett started, Minshew served as his backup and Beck was the emergency option. Brissett had held the starting job for most of the past two seasons. His demotion leaves him behind both the veteran who replaced him against Dallas and the rookie selected by Arizona this year.
Brissett struggled against the Cowboys before Minshew entered and threw three touchdown passes, completing 73.9% of his attempts. Arizona trailed 27-17 with 3:54 remaining but rallied to secure a 33-30 overtime victory. The result brought the Cardinals to 3-5 and preceded LaFleur's decision to give Minshew the starting assignment.
Minshew, 30, joined Arizona this season after a career that has taken him through several NFL teams. Selected in the sixth round of the 2019 draft, he began in Jacksonville and later played for Philadelphia, Indianapolis, Las Vegas and Kansas City. His strongest season came with the Colts in 2023, when he went 7-6 as a starter and received his first Pro Bowl selection.
Beck moves into the No. 2 role after showing promise during the preseason. The 2026 third-round selection completed 15 of 19 passes for 188 yards, with one touchdown and no interceptions. He arrived in the NFL following a productive 2025 season at Miami that concluded with an appearance in the College Football Playoff National Championship.
Minshew's first start for the Cardinals is scheduled for next Sunday in Seattle. Arizona will face the Seahawks, the defending Super Bowl champions, with its newly announced quarterback order in place.
Brissett's longer-term status remains uncertain. Asked about the quarterback's future with Arizona beyond this week, LaFleur did not commit to an answer. The league's trade deadline is Nov. 10.
CBS Sports identified Baltimore as a possible trade destination for Brissett. The Ravens are without Lamar Jackson, while backup Tyler Huntley is expected to miss time after injuring his toe in Sunday's loss to Buffalo. That leaves undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano as Baltimore's only healthy quarterback.
