ESPN: Ravens acquire Jacoby Brissett from Cards

After holding out part of the offseason for a new deal that was fitting for a starting QB in the league, Brissett now finds himself as the QB3 of the Cardinals entering Week 9. There’s a good chance this is the end of the road for Brissett as far as his time with the Cardinals is concerned, as a handful of dire QB situations around the league could warrant a trade to a contender who is looking to upgrade at QB before the trade deadline. Brissett was solid last season for a three-win Cardinals team, throwing for 3,366 yards, 23 touchdowns, and eight interceptions in 12 starts. He currently sports a 1,719-10-7 line this season but has struggled in his last three starts, throwing just one touchdown to two interceptions. With Brissett being demoted to QB3, rookie Carson Beck will be elevated to QB2 on game days, and draws ever closer to making his first career start at some point in the season.

He took four sacks, including back-to-back sacks to kill a third-quarter drive, before being replaced. Brissett hasn’t necessarily played this poorly all season, but we’d been getting plenty of questions at press conferences about if he’d remain the starter so we’re ultimately unsurprised by this move. Minshew took over and we assume Carson Beck will also be mentioned ahead of Week 9. Full Mike LaFleur press conference coverage to come, naturally.

Brissett struggled to get the deep ball going in this game and was largely stuck dinking and dunking his way down the field. He averaged a measly 5.7 yards per attempt while completing 56.3 percent of his passes. Brissett hasn’t averaged seven yards per attempt in a game since Week 1. Even worse is the fact that he’s taking bone-crushing hits more than ever. Brissett injured his non-throwing hand while taking a sack late in the second quarter but never missed any time with the issue. We expect him to make an appearance on the injury report this week. Head coach Mike LaFleur told reporters after the game that Brissett remains the starter, meaning he’ll take on a terrible Dallas defense next week. He will be a priority streamer for Week 8.

Brissett threw an interception to Rams S Quentin Lake while targeting Trey McBride on the Cardinals’ third play from scrimmage but managed to play mistake-free and touchdown-free football from there on out. Brissett took zero sacks for the first time this season and linked up with four different players for explosive gains. That said, the box score results obviously disappoint. Brissett nearly linked up with Michael Wilson for a 36-yard touchdown on the Cardinals’ seventh drive, but the ball glanced off Wilson’s fingertips as he dove for it in the end zone. The drive ultimately resulted in a field goal, as did five others. Brissett will be a high-end QB2 against the Broncos in Week 7.

Cardinals fans appear to be pining for the team to bench Jacoby Brissett and start the rookie in the coming weeks as another season circles the drain for Arizona. Beck so far has been the Cards’ emergency third quarterback. Urban said there remains a “chance Beck is made the backup this week or next and allow him to come on in relief if the situation presents itself. I don’t see Beck starting in the immediate future, but it does feel his time grows closer, and if the offense continues to sputter, that would be understandable.” Brissett this season ranks 15th in passing yards. He’s thrown nine touchdowns to five interceptions and ranks 30th out of 37 qualifying QBs in adjusted yards per attempt. He won’t be a viable fantasy play this week against a tough Rams coverage unit.

Brissett also rushed twice for 19 yards and nearly scored on a trick play via a seven-yard reception. He was stopped at the Lions’ two-yard line. Brissett guided the Cardinals to a 14-play scoring drive on their first possession, which he capped off with a two-yard touchdown strike to backup TE Teagan Quitoriano. The bottom dropped out after that. The Cardinals racked up five straight drives ending a punt, with Brissett only managing to break the dreary streak by throwing an interception. Brissett managed to salvage his box score with another Quitoriano score, and a juggling touchdown catch secured by Trey McBride. Brissett also coaxed a few big plays out of fellow backup TE Elijah Higgins. Apparently, the veteran quarterback is ready to target more towering pass catchers with Marvin Harrison Jr. now a Texan. Brissett is a borderline QB1/2 with a shaky floor in Week 6 against the Rams. Coach Mike LaFleur said post-game that he is not considering a quarterback change.

Brissett added four carries for 18 yards. Entering the proceedings with just one pick through three starts, Brissett tossed two in the first half before “adding” a walk-off pick-six on the game’s final play. Trailing 30-24, the Cardinals had a 4th-and-goal from the Giants’ four-yard line. Then a pressured Brissett threw it right to Deonte Banks after Michael Wilson cut off his route in the end zone. It was a brutal end to a brutal game, one where Brissett took a pair of sacks in addition to his giveaways. He did find the beleaguered Marvin Harrison Jr. for a 12-yard score against man-to-man coverage on the game’s opening drive, but that opening drive score went down as MHJ’s only reception. The duo did draw a late DPI to set up their ill-faded goal-line series. Averaging a miserable 4.7 yards per attempt on 115 throws over his past three starts, Brissett could get the Carson Beck chatter going in the desert sooner rather than later. That being said, the Lions are a plus Week 5 matchup.

Brissett and the Cardinals offense had difficulty navigating penalties and finishing drives in the first half, playing catch-up for much of the second half. The offense wore down the 49ers’ banged-up defensive line over time, with Brissett tossing a pair of touchdowns and sneaking in another from the one-yard line to bring the Cardinals close in the fourth quarter. Though he couldn’t complete the comeback, Brissett’s fantasy production with 52 passing attempts is a good sign for Cardinals pass-catchers moving forward. However, they won’t be in as much of a pass-happy game script against the Giants in Week 4; Brissett is a fantasy QB2 for next week.

Brissett practiced fully all week, despite the hip injury. Brissett is not quite hitting the peaks he produced last year and is too tough to trust in 12-team leagues. Consider him a QB2 against the 49ers this week.

Brissett seemingly dealt with an injury in the Cardinals’ Week 2 loss against the Seahawks, but played through it. He opens the week listed with a hip injury but was a full practice participant. Though Brissett seems to have a hip issue ailing him, it does not seem like it will keep him from playing. The veteran remains in the low-end QB2 conversation for Week 3 against the 49ers.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Carson Wentz will start for the Vikings in Week 9 against the Bills.

Deshaun Watson (concussion) did not practice on Thursday.

Garrett Wilson (concussion) did not practice Thursday.

Jonathan Taylor said he has not requested a trade.

49ers GM John Lynch said it’s likely that Deebo Samuel (hamstring) will not play in Week 9 against the Raiders.

49ers GM John Lynch said it’s likely that Mike Evans (Achilles) will not play in Week 9 against the Raiders.

Brian Robinson (hamstring) was limited in Thursday’s practice.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Carson Wentz is “trending toward” starting in Week 9 against the Bills.

NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports the Colts plan to wait until after Week 9 against the Cowboys “before revisiting the offers on the table and making the trades that make sense on Monday and Tuesday.”

Grady Jarrett (groin) did not practice in Wednesday’s walkthrough.