Gardner Minshew Heads To Injured Reserve As Cardinals Rookie Carson Beck Nears First NFL Start

Gardner Minshew Goes On IR As Carson Beck Gets His Chance© Instagram

Gardner Minshew earned Arizona's starting job with a comeback in Dallas. One start later, his season is over. The Cardinals placed Minshew on injured reserve Tuesday following the elbow injury he suffered against Seattle, putting rookie Carson Beck in line for his first NFL start Sunday against the Rams. Arizona also placed Michael Wilson on IR after the receiver sustained a season-ending neck injury. Beck takes over a 3-6 team that recently traded Jacoby Brissett to Baltimore. The Cardinals have signed Josh Johnson and Joey Aguilar to replenish their quarterback room.

Minshew Played Through Injury Against Seattle

Minshew was hurt on the final play of the first half Sunday when Dante Fowler struck his throwing arm. He immediately grabbed at the arm but returned after halftime and played every offensive snap in the 17-3 defeat.

He finished with 166 yards on 21-of-30 passing. Subsequent reports indicated a torn ulnar collateral ligament, and Arizona confirmed Tuesday that his season had ended.

It cuts short a brief spell as the starter. Minshew replaced Brissett against Dallas in Week 8 and helped overturn a 14-point deficit in a 33-30 overtime victory. Arizona then committed to him and moved Brissett.

Beck has yet to appear in a regular-season game. Back spasms had also interrupted his rookie year, although coach Mike LaFleur said Monday that the third-round pick was doing well.

LaFleur does not anticipate rebuilding the offense around the change. He said Beck and Minshew are comfortable with many of the same concepts, allowing Arizona to retain its basic approach.

Beck Prepares Without Michael Wilson

The rookie's first start will come without Wilson, who had 51 catches for 546 yards and two touchdowns this season. His absence follows season-ending injuries to fellow receivers Kendrick Bourne and Jalen Brooks.

Arizona added Phillip Dorsett II to its practice squad Tuesday. Its remaining receiving options include Simi Fehoko, Devin Duvernay and rookies Reggie Virgil and Harrison Wallace III, alongside tight end Trey McBride.

There is uncertainty at center, too. LaFleur said Monday that Hjalte Froholdt was in concussion protocol.

Johnson brings experience to the reshuffled quarterback group. Arizona signed the 40-year-old from Cincinnati's practice squad, making the Cardinals his 15th NFL team. Aguilar arrived from Jacksonville's practice squad.

Beck had already been thinking about the preparation required for this opportunity.

“You have that plan set in place,” he said last week. “Then you are not stressing.”