Cardinals rule out Beck (rib) for preseason Week 1

Brissett struggled to get the deep ball going in this game and was largely stuck dinking and dunking his way down the field. He averaged a measly 5.7 yards per attempt while completing 56.3 percent of his passes. Brissett hasn’t averaged seven yards per attempt in a game since Week 1. Even worse is the fact that he’s taking bone-crushing hits more than ever. Brissett injured his non-throwing hand while taking a sack late in the second quarter but never missed any time with the issue. We expect him to make an appearance on the injury report this week. Head coach Mike LaFleur told reporters after the game that Brissett remains the starter, meaning he’ll take on a terrible Dallas defense next week. He will be a priority streamer for Week 8.

Beck left Thursday’s practice with back spasms and was listed as a DNP. Head coach Mike LaFleur said he was not overly concerned about the injury and that he doesn’t believe it will be anything long-term. Beck’s injury shouldn’t change his Week 7 availability, as he has been the emergency QB3 all season. He was officially listed as questionable to play.

Beck appeared on the injury report last Friday, as a limited participant. He remained limited on Wednesday and was downgraded today. Beat reporters saw him at practice briefly, but he ended up going inside with a trainer. This could help preserve Jacoby Brissett’s job security. Stay tuned.

Brissett threw an interception to Rams S Quentin Lake while targeting Trey McBride on the Cardinals’ third play from scrimmage but managed to play mistake-free and touchdown-free football from there on out. Brissett took zero sacks for the first time this season and linked up with four different players for explosive gains. That said, the box score results obviously disappoint. Brissett nearly linked up with Michael Wilson for a 36-yard touchdown on the Cardinals’ seventh drive, but the ball glanced off Wilson’s fingertips as he dove for it in the end zone. The drive ultimately resulted in a field goal, as did five others. Brissett will be a high-end QB2 against the Broncos in Week 7.

Cardinals fans appear to be pining for the team to bench Jacoby Brissett and start the rookie in the coming weeks as another season circles the drain for Arizona. Beck so far has been the Cards’ emergency third quarterback. Urban said there remains a “chance Beck is made the backup this week or next and allow him to come on in relief if the situation presents itself. I don’t see Beck starting in the immediate future, but it does feel his time grows closer, and if the offense continues to sputter, that would be understandable.” Brissett this season ranks 15th in passing yards. He’s thrown nine touchdowns to five interceptions and ranks 30th out of 37 qualifying QBs in adjusted yards per attempt. He won’t be a viable fantasy play this week against a tough Rams coverage unit.

Brissett also rushed twice for 19 yards and nearly scored on a trick play via a seven-yard reception. He was stopped at the Lions’ two-yard line. Brissett guided the Cardinals to a 14-play scoring drive on their first possession, which he capped off with a two-yard touchdown strike to backup TE Teagan Quitoriano. The bottom dropped out after that. The Cardinals racked up five straight drives ending a punt, with Brissett only managing to break the dreary streak by throwing an interception. Brissett managed to salvage his box score with another Quitoriano score, and a juggling touchdown catch secured by Trey McBride. Brissett also coaxed a few big plays out of fellow backup TE Elijah Higgins. Apparently, the veteran quarterback is ready to target more towering pass catchers with Marvin Harrison Jr. now a Texan. Brissett is a borderline QB1/2 with a shaky floor in Week 6 against the Rams. Coach Mike LaFleur said post-game that he is not considering a quarterback change.

Brissett added four carries for 18 yards. Entering the proceedings with just one pick through three starts, Brissett tossed two in the first half before “adding” a walk-off pick-six on the game’s final play. Trailing 30-24, the Cardinals had a 4th-and-goal from the Giants’ four-yard line. Then a pressured Brissett threw it right to Deonte Banks after Michael Wilson cut off his route in the end zone. It was a brutal end to a brutal game, one where Brissett took a pair of sacks in addition to his giveaways. He did find the beleaguered Marvin Harrison Jr. for a 12-yard score against man-to-man coverage on the game’s opening drive, but that opening drive score went down as MHJ’s only reception. The duo did draw a late DPI to set up their ill-faded goal-line series. Averaging a miserable 4.7 yards per attempt on 115 throws over his past three starts, Brissett could get the Carson Beck chatter going in the desert sooner rather than later. That being said, the Lions are a plus Week 5 matchup.

Brissett and the Cardinals offense had difficulty navigating penalties and finishing drives in the first half, playing catch-up for much of the second half. The offense wore down the 49ers’ banged-up defensive line over time, with Brissett tossing a pair of touchdowns and sneaking in another from the one-yard line to bring the Cardinals close in the fourth quarter. Though he couldn’t complete the comeback, Brissett’s fantasy production with 52 passing attempts is a good sign for Cardinals pass-catchers moving forward. However, they won’t be in as much of a pass-happy game script against the Giants in Week 4; Brissett is a fantasy QB2 for next week.

Beck continues to be the Cardinals’ third quarterback and will be a gameday inactive for Week 3 behind Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew. Dadrion “Rabbit” Taylor-Demerson (back) was scratched on Friday.

Brissett practiced fully all week, despite the hip injury. Brissett is not quite hitting the peaks he produced last year and is too tough to trust in 12-team leagues. Consider him a QB2 against the 49ers this week.