"I just know that as far as favorites and longshots, really I've never thought of it in those terms," he said at his daily media briefing Tuesday in Flagstaff. "I think we just, we've always been true to what we've said and we're going to stick to the process.

"Kevin's going to start this week like we said, and we'll let it play itself out."

So, Kolb will get the start Friday against the Raiders, looking to rebound from a pair of poor preseason outings. Playing well would certainly go a long way towards winning the job, but it's impossible to say right now if he must have a big game to stay in the race.

"We're trying to get the best player that gives us the best chance to win," Whisenhunt said. "I've said all along it's a process. I think everybody wants an instant evaluation or wants to say that, but we just don't think in those terms."

The Cardinals have three preseason games left to figure out who the QB will be, and Whisenhunt said the decision will be made when it is apparent who the right choice is.

"We're going to let the process play out," he said. "When we feel like we have a player that's going to give us the best chance to win we'll move in that direction."

Arizona Sports' Kyndra de St. Aubin contributed to this report