Cardinals Impressed by Carson Beck's Preseason Debut
AI-generated image · US National Wire
Rookie QB shows mental acuity against Carolina, but Jacoby Brissett remains the starter for Week 1.
The Arizona Cardinals are seeing promising signs from rookie quarterback Carson Beck, as CBS Sports first reported, though he is not currently expected to displace Jacoby Brissett as the starter.
During the 2026 Hall of Fame Game against the Carolina Panthers, Beck completed 15 of 19 passes for 188 yards. According to CBS Sports, the Cardinals' staff was particularly impressed by Beck's pre-snap work, including his ability to recognize a Panthers blitz and flip a protection. CBS Sports reports that while the Panthers utilized vanilla defensive coverages against the rookie, Beck consistently avoided poor decisions and demonstrated a strong grasp of Arizona's offensive system.
Beck, who was selected by the Cardinals as the first pick of the third round, previously played for Georgia and Miami. CBS Sports notes that Beck led Miami to a national championship game appearance last year, throwing for 30 touchdowns and 3,813 yards. A team source told CBS Sports that Beck has been "really sharp" during training camp, while another source described the rookie as a mature, smart player with the potential to succeed in the NFL.
Despite the rookie's progress, the Cardinals are expected to start Jacoby Brissett in the season opener against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sept. 13. Brissett recently signed a one-year contract valued at $15.5 million. Arizona also retains veteran Gardner Minshew as a backup option.