Gardner Minshew named Cardinals starting QB after historic comeback against Cowboys, Carson Beck QB2

After his stellar performance in Sunday’s historic win over the Dallas Cowboys, Gardner Minshew II is getting a promotion.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur has named Minshew as the starter for this week’s game against the Seattle Seahawks. Additionally, LaFleur said rookie quarterback Carson Beck would be Minshew’s backup to Jacoby Brissett.

After Brissett struggled throughout the first half, the Cardinals called on Minshew in the second half, and he completed 17 of 23 passes for 188 yards and three touchdowns.

Arizona trailed 17-3 when Minshew entered the game, and he led a tremendous comeback, tying the game in the final seconds when he connected with Michael Wilson. The Cardinals went on to win in overtime.

Brissett, who started all eight games for the Cardinals, has totaled 1,719 yards, 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions this year. He had 119 yards and one interception on 10-of-23 passing when he came out of the game Sunday.

Brissett’s benching comes after the veteran quarterback signed a reworked deal in July that pays him $15.5 million for the 2026 season, with incentives that could bring the total value to $21 million.

Minshew, meanwhile, is playing on a one-year, $5.75 million deal.

Minshew, a 2019 draft pick, has rarely started in his career, as has Brissett. He was QB1 in Jacksonville early in his career before joining a handful of different teams. He started 17 games for the Indianapolis Colts in 2023 before appearing in 10 games for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2024.

Last year, he only played in four games for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Minshew is still only 30 years old and has the chance to experience a late career revival. If he can match his performance from Sunday, he could have a big year.

Beck, a third-round pick by Miami in the 2026 draft, could eventually be the Cardinals’ solution at center, and the promotion to QB2 certainly eases his path to the starting job.

For now, he will wait his turn behind Minshew.