Cardinals’ Carson Beck aces 1st big NFL test with Hall of Fame game showing

CANTON, Ohio — It won’t count in the record book, but the Beckoning kicked off with a bang in Thursday’s Hall of Fame loss to the Carolina Panthers.

Cardinals rookie quarterback Carson Beck was absolutely spinning the rock through just over a first half of play, going 15-of-19 for 188 yards and a one touchdown. He ended with a 125.4 passer rating.

 

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“From the time that you cross the white lines and you’re out there on the first play, I was ready to roll,” Beck said after the 33-30 loss to Carolina. “Since last night when I was lying in bed, I could barely sleep just thinking about having the opportunity to play football again and just never taking it for granted.

“Ever since I went through the injury, the surgery and had to get my UCL repaired and everything, just having gratitude for the game and every opportunity that I get is just something that I’ve really found faith in.”

Overreaction or not, it was an impressive way to kick off his NFL career.

The arm strength was there, just take a look at the couple of deep shots to wide receiver Jalen Brooks, who was absolutely leveled after one of the bombs.

His ability to efficiently move down the field and keep the ball out of harm’s way was on display, too.

There are going to be plenty of highlights nationally when it comes to Beck’s final stat line, especially given the team’s quarterback situation (let the starting debate begin?) and just the fact football is finally back.

But it’s the little things to Beck’s game that should have the Cardinals fans in attendance and watching from home optimistic.

First off, it was a pretty seamless operation with Beck commanding the offense. He looked just fine getting in and out of the huddle and directing traffic. Miniscule things for an NFL game, but critical to any NFL operation.

The poise and confidence he portrayed running the show were even more evident. Even when things weren’t going his way — such as a boot going nowhere in the red zone — Beck simply threw it away instead of trying to make something out of nothing.

 

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“He just lives by the play. I give a lot of credit to (offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett), but really, particularly (quarterbacks coach Matt Schaub) in terms of just the way Shaub played was that,” head coach Mike LaFleur said postgame. “He worried about one play at a time and executing that play and going through your progressions and not making stuff up. If it’s not there, checking it down. If we’re in a bad play, a bad call, don’t make it worse.”

The ball placement? Just as impressive. His touchdown strike to wide receiver Simi Fehoko proved that. No one but Fehoko was coming down with that throw.

And for all the talk (and optics) of his camp inaccuracies, he was on point on all three levels.

The foundation is clearly there. And after Thursday’s showing, so is the hope many have that the young signal caller could (eventually) be the guy for years to come.

There’s still a ways to go and it’s just one exhibition game with a vanilla game plan, but for now, the dream feels very much alive in Arizona.

And if anything, it was a fun watch, right?

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