Arizona Cardinals rookie quarterback Carson Beck is sidelined for the team’s preseason finale against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field due to an ongoing rib injury, losing valuable development time ahead of the regular season. The third-round draft pick has not practiced or played since early August after suffering the setback during the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game against the Carolina Panthers.
Cardinals Grapple With Preseason Absence for Third-Round Pick
The Arizona Cardinals played their preseason finale at Lambeau Field without rookie quarterback Carson Beck, who remains inactive due to a rib injury sustained in the opening week of August. According to team reports, Beck initially suffered the setback early in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game against the Carolina Panthers. Although he finished that contest and managed to practice through the following week, soreness escalated to uncomfortable levels just hours before the Cardinals’ preseason matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Head coach Mike LaFleur told reporters that the discomfort eventually reached a point where continued play was counterproductive. The Miami and Georgia product has missed subsequent preseason games against the Raiders and the Dallas Cowboys, as well as joint practices with the Green Bay Packers.
Coaching Staff Assesses Development Impact and Roster Decisions
While missing practice repetitions during a rookie’s first NFL training camp presents clear hurdles, Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur minimized long-term concerns regarding Carson Beck’s development. According to team statements, LaFleur noted that missing time affects young players across all positions equally, emphasizing that Beck is a tough competitor who attempted to battle through the discomfort before the medical staff intervened.
“It’s easy to magnify the quarterback position and the rookie and all that kind of stuff, but yeah, you get better at football by practicing and playing football,” LaFleur told reporters. “So when you’re not out there, it’s hard to get better, right?”
With final roster cuts approaching, speculation arose regarding whether Arizona might place Beck on injured reserve to begin the regular season, a move that would require him to miss at least the first four games. However, Arizona Sports analyst John Gambadoro dismissed those rumors, characterizing an injured reserve placement as unlikely. Behind established options Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew, backup quarterback Kedon Slovis joined Minshew in handling passing duties for the Cardinals during Friday night’s finale against Green Bay.
Next Steps for Arizona Ahead of Week 1
Following Friday night’s game at Lambeau Field, the Arizona Cardinals enter a scheduled week off to finalize their 53-man roster and prepare for the regular-season opener. The team will return to the practice facility to begin game-week preparations for their Week 1 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers.
