Gardner Minshew’s season-ending injury opens the door for Beck, whose first assignment comes against one of the NFL’s most accomplished pass-rushing duos
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If the 2026 NFL season feels like an unprecedented year for unheralded rookie quarterbacks, that’s because it is.
With the Arizona Cardinals (3-6) announcing Carson Beck as their starting quarterback for Week 10 against the Los Angeles Rams (5-4), he will now be the third rookie quarterback drafted outside of the first two rounds to start a game this season. The other two were undrafted rookies — Jalon Daniels of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Joe Fagnano of the Baltimore Ravens. That hasn’t happened since 1987.
“You never really know until you get to the live bullets on Sunday, but just the way he goes about his business, whether it’s been from OTAs through training camp before he got hurt, seeing him operate in that first half,” coach Mike LaFleur said. “Plus, the one possession there in the second half, so obviously we’ll know more come next Sunday, but we have all the confidence he’s ready to roll.”
Beck started the season low on the depth chart, and reflected on how it feels to move so far up in the same year.
“Obviously, having gone from the emergency quarterback at the beginning of the season to last week being the backup to now being the starter, it’s been a crazy season,” Beck said. “It’s really been a welcome to the NFL season, just getting introduced to what the league is and what it can be, but I’m super excited for the opportunity and to have the chance to go play with these guys.”
Jacoby Brissett started the year as the starter, was then benched, and was eventually traded to the Baltimore Ravens. Gardner Minshew took over as QB1 was Brissett was demoted and at that time, Beck was promoted from emergency third quarterback to backup. The Minshew injury now leaves Beck to take over after spending the first half of the season learning from his predecessors.
“I think the biggest thing is just watching those two and how they carry themselves and how they handle themselves not only in the meeting room around the coaches, but during the walkthrough, during practice, and during the game,” Beck said. “I think that’s the biggest thing that you can learn from those guys, of everybody’s looking at you as a quarterback, and your attitude has to be right each and every day. The moxie going out there, having confidence, and making everyone around you better.”
That “confidence” is not something Beck is worried about. He believes that “confidence is a choice” and having it makes everyone around you better as well.
“When you can choose that, again, you just have to go out there and execute,” he said. “You have to go out there and do your thing and you have to go out there and be confident, have swag, and have moxie. Regardless of the circumstances, regardless of anything going on around you, regardless of maybe what happened the play before or maybe thinking about what’s going to happen the next play. You have to be in the present moment and that’s really all you can do and control.”
To kick off the 2026 preseason, Beck completed 15 of his 19 throws for 188 yards and a touchdown against the Carolina Panthers. Beck will also become the fifth quarterback to make his first career start against a duo of pass rushers with 100-plus sacks each when he faces the Rams’ duo of Aaron Donald and Myles Garrett.
“Who do they got?” LaFleur said jokingly. “I got no expectations for him except to go out and play his game one play at a time. Go let it rip, go have some fun. Have some fun with your guys.”
A depleted group represents Beck’s supporting cast, with Michael Wilson (neck) and Kendrick Bourne (tibia) out for the season and Marvin Harrison Jr. traded to the Houston Texans. Fifth-round rookie Reggie Virgil, undrafted veteran Simi Fehoko and Pro Bowl return man Devin Duvernay are the projected starters.
Fortunately, Beck also has the 2025 first-team All-Pro tight end at his disposal in Trey McBride. McBride leads the NFL with 73 catches through Week 9, and he has 11 consecutive games with at least seven catches. Beck also knows a thing or two about feeding his superstar tight end after his years teaming with Brock Bowers at Georgia.
