Arizona Cardinals coach Arians: Logan Thomas as expected, has ‘a good future’

Aug 29, 2014, 11:02 PM | Updated: 11:14 pm

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TEMPE, Ariz. — The first time Logan Thomas stepped onto the field during the preseason, he completed 11-of-12 passes for 113 yards and one touchdown against the Houston Texans.

Quite simply, he looked great.

Then, in his second time out on the field, he completed just 2-of-7 passes for 21 yards with one interception against the Cincinnati Bengals.

In that game, he didn’t look so good.

And lastly, in the preseason finale against the San Diego Chargers, the former Virginia Tech QB completed 9-of-21 passes for 73 yards with one interception.

Playing the entire game with a squad made up of mostly second and third-string players, Thomas’ performance was uneven and not terribly impressive, especially when compared to how he fared in the preseason opener.

“He’s a project, just like we thought,” coach Bruce Arians said. “He has ups and downs, and ‘wow’ throws and ‘oh s***’ throws.

“About what we thought he would be; I think he’s got a good future.”

For all his physical tools, Thomas fell to the fourth round because he is very, very raw. He’s shown flashes of ability that make you wonder what he could eventually become, but he did enough in the preseason — especially after the first game — to show that he still has much to work on if he is ever going to become a starting quarterback in the NFL.

And that’s OK, because if all goes according to plan the Cardinals will not see Thomas throw another pass for at least the rest of this season as he sits behind starter Carson Palmer and backup Drew Stanton.

“This will be my last time playing for a while, which I understand,” Thomas said Thursday night via Kyle Odegard of AZCardinals.com. “Now it’s just time for me to learn and try to help out the team as much as I possibly can from here on out.”

San Diego Chargers head coach Mike McCoy talks on the field before the Chargers play the Arizona Cardinals in an NFL preseason football game Thursday, Aug. 28, 2014, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Logan Thomas throws during warmup before facing the San Diego Chargers in an NFL preseason football game Thursday, Aug. 28, 2014, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi) San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers gestures during warmup before facing the Arizona Cardinals in an NFL preseason football game Thursday, Aug. 28, 2014, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) throws in front of quarterback Logan Thomas during warmup before facing the San Diego Chargers in an NFL preseason football game Thursday, Aug. 28, 2014, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi) Arizona Cardinals running back Stepfan Taylor looks up as he waits to make a catch while warming up before facing the San Diego Chargers in an NFL preseason football game Thursday, Aug. 28, 2014, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi) San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers talks with tight end Antonio Gates, left, during warmup before facing the Arizona Cardinals in an NFL preseason football game Thursday, Aug. 28, 2014, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Logan Thomas throws during warmup before facing the San Diego Chargers in an NFL preseason football game Thursday, Aug. 28, 2014, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Logan Thomas (6) looks to throw while playing the San Diego Chargers during the first half of an NFL preseason football game Thursday, Aug. 28, 2014, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) Arizona Cardinals kick returner Walt Powell, right, avoids San Diego Chargers' Branden Oliver on the kickoff return during the first half of an NFL preseason football game Thursday, Aug. 28, 2014, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) Arizona Cardinals kick returner Walt Powell, right, avoids San Diego Chargers' Branden Oliver and Adrian Phillips on the kickoff return during the first half of an NFL preseason football game Thursday, Aug. 28, 2014, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Logan Thomas throws a pass over San Diego Chargers outside linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu (97) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game Thursday, Aug. 28, 2014, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Logan Thomas throws a pass against the San Diego Chargers during the first half of an NFL preseason football game Thursday, Aug. 28, 2014, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi) San Diego Chargers wide receiver Seyi Ajirotutu escapes from Arizona Cardinals defensive back Bryan McCann during the first half of an NFL preseason football game Thursday, Aug. 28, 2014, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Logan Thomas gestures before beginning a play against the San Diego Chargers during the first half of an NFL preseason football game Thursday, Aug. 28, 2014, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Logan Thomas, center, is sacked by San Diego Chargers defensive tackle Chas Alecxih, right, during the first half of an NFL preseason football game Thursday, Aug. 28, 2014, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy) San Diego Chargers quarterback Kellen Clemens throws a pass against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL preseason football game Thursday, Aug. 28, 2014, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi) Arizona Cardinals linebacker Desmond Bishop grabs the face mask of San Diego Chargers running back Marion Grice during the first half of an NFL preseason football game Thursday, Aug. 28, 2014, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi) San Diego Chargers kicker Nick Novak (9) kicks a 55-yard field goal while playing the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL preseason football game Thursday, Aug. 28, 2014, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy) San Diego Chargers kicker Nick Novak (9) is congratulated by teammate punter Mike Scifres after Novak hit a 55-yard field goal while playing the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL preseason football game Thursday, Aug. 28, 2014, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

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