Arizona Cardinals name rookie Josh Rosen starting quarterback

Arizona Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks announced Monday that rookie Josh Rosen will take over as the starting quarterback, beginning when the team hosts the NFC West foe Seattle Seahawks on Sunday for Week 4.

“Josh Rosen will be our starter going forward,” he said.

“I think Josh is more than ready for this opportunity,” Wilks told Bickley & Marotta on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station. “Very confident, you look at his athleticism, his skill set, his accuracy, his arm strength, all of that. We’ve got to do a great job of working around him, meaning everybody got to do their part.”

Rosen, the team’s first-round selection at 10th overall in this year’s NFL Draft, entered the game for the Cardinals on Sunday in Week 3 against the Bears. He took over for starter Sam Bradford in the fourth quarter with 4:31 to go, but it was too little too late for Arizona to mount a comeback over Chicago. The UCLA product completed 3-of-6 passes for 27 yards in his first NFL drive before throwing an interception.

Rosen got on the field once more, but that drive ended with a sack to seal the victory for the Bears. He finished his debut having completed 4-of-7 passes for 36 yards and the pick.

Bradford will be benched after starting just three games for Arizona, completing 62.5 percent of his passes on 80 attempts. He threw two touchdowns to go with four interceptions and a passer rating of 62.5. He was also sacked six times.

After the Cardinals’ Week 2 loss in Los Angeles to the Rams, Wilks defended Bradford some, pointing out that the inability of the offense to sustain success was largely due to poor team play, not just poor quarterback play.

“I think Sam is doing well,” he Wilks said. “Is he inconsistent? Yes. Does he need to be a little more accurate? Yes. But that’s not just Sam. We need to be able to get a little more protection, he needs a little bit more time to go through his progression.”

Bradford signed a contract this offseason worth up to $20 million this season with $15 million guaranteed. Bradford’s deal also has a team option for next season worth $20 million.

“Sam is a pro,” Wilks said when asked how he took the news. “He’s been around for a while. He understands. As I said from day one when he came in, Sam is our starter. I want Josh to be able to sit and learn and grow, and it’s Sam’s job to lose.

“He understands that we need more production out of that particular position. He was a little disappointed but he understands his role and he’s going to do everything he can to help Josh.”

Following Wilks’ announcement, the rookie QB took to Instagram to show his support of Bradford, as well as Mike Glennon.

“Since day 1, Sam has had my back and helped me become the best quarterback I could be. I cannot thank him enough for showing me how to be a professional in every sense of the word,” Rosen said on Instagram. “He is a leader, mentor, and great person. He and Mike Glennon couldn’t have been more supportive at a time that I thought might be a bit tense or awkward today.

“I couldn’t be more thrilled to be in a QB room with two of the most selfless people I’ve ever been around as I start my career as a quarterback in the NFL. For that I say thank you,” he added.

“With that being said, let’s get the Valley rockin’ AZ!!!!”

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