Jacoby Brissett
Brissett is Arizona's starting quarterback for now, and the coach has said he stays in the job after a 45-21 loss, but the offense around him is struggling and the team is 1-4.
Role
He started and played the whole Lions game, going 29 of 47 with five sacks (ESPN game log). He added two rushes for 19 yards and caught a seven-yard pass (our wire note). His touchdown passes went to Teagan Quitoriano twice and Trey McBride once (ESPN game summary, Oct 11). Marvin Harrison Jr. was inactive Sunday while Arizona was reported to be trading him, and Houston's acquisition of him was announced during the game (Yahoo, ESPN recap), so the receiver group is changing. A Raising Zona opinion piece names third-round rookie Carson Beck as the alternative and says head coach Mike LaFleur plans to keep Brissett as the starter against the Rams. I did not find snap counts or a depth chart, so I can't say whether Beck is the clear No. 2.
He threw three touchdown passes and nearly 300 yards against a Lions defense that was hurrying him all day. Arizona was playing from behind, so he threw 47 times. LaFleur has publicly kept him as the starter. Raising Zona reports Arizona has financially committed to him for the season, which points to job security.
Arizona's offense had five straight three-and-outs in the first half, totaling 12 yards, and Brissett threw an interception to end the second quarter. Bleacher Report's QB report card noted he faced heavy pressure. The team has lost four straight. Raising Zona argues the Cardinals should switch to Beck. The offense also just lost or is losing Harrison, and LaFleur's own postgame quote called the team a "three and out machine." Most of his production came after Detroit had pulled ahead.
Where analysts split
The open question is whether Arizona stays with Brissett or starts the rookie Beck if the losing continues. The only voice I found arguing for the change is one opinion column. LaFleur's stated position is to stay the course, and I found no beat-writer reporting that a switch is coming.
Research confidence: reported. Outlooks are grounded in web search over current reporting and refreshed through the season.
Others at QB
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