Carson Beck named the Cardinals’ starter against Rams

The writing has been on the wall all week, but Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur confirmed Wednesday that rookie quarterback Carson Beck will start on Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams.

Beck will make his NFL debut less than two weeks after moving up the depth chart from emergency third-stringer to backup, as the Cardinals’ quarterback situation has gone through drastic changes.

Jacoby Brissett was benched on Nov. 1 in Dallas and quickly traded to the Baltimore Ravens the following week. Gardner Minshew started last Sunday in Seattle but suffered an elbow injury. He played through it for a half, but the Cardinals placed Minshew on injured reserve on Tuesday. LaFleur said Wednesday that Minshew will be out for the season.

Arizona signed quarterbacks Josh Johnson and Joey Aguilar to the active roster on Tuesday to build back out a suddenly depleted room.

Beck sparked local excitement with his 15-for-19 performance in the Hall of Fame Game on Aug. 6. That was Beck’s most recent in-game action, however, as a rib injury knocked him out for the rest of the preseason.

The past week has been important for him to get increased reps in practice, and now he has eight games ahead of him to get his feet wet in the NFL.

“You never really know until you get to the live bullets on Sunday,” LaFleur said. “But just the way he goes about his business, whether it’s been from OTAs through training camp before he got hurt. … We’ll know more come Sunday, but I have all the confidence that he’s ready to roll.”

The rookie spent six years in college football, finishing off with a national title appearance with Miami last winter — the Hurricanes lost to Indiana, whose quarterback Fernando Mendoza is also going to make his first start on Sunday.

Beck completed 72.4% of his passes last season, throwing 30 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions.

The Cardinals took him with a third-round pick, No. 65 overall.

Beck will be running an offense deficient in talent after a recent avalanche of injuries.

Wide receivers Michael Wilson, Kendrick Bourne and Jalen Brooks suffered season-ending injuries over the past three weeks, while running back Jeremiyah Love is on injured reserve.

Center Hjalte Froholdt is in concussion protocol, a significant development considering Froholdt has not missed a game since joining the team in 2023 and the Cardinals will line up against a Rams defensive line with Aaron Donald and Myles Garrett.

Beck has chemistry with the receivers who have vaulted up the depth chart like he has in recent weeks.

“I’ve got no expectations for him except to just go out and play his game,” LaFleur said. “Go let it rip. Have some fun. Have some fun with your guys.”

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