Cardinals vs. Seahawks: Backup QB Battle Breakdown

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Cardinals’ Quarterback Decisions Loom Over Matchup With Seahawks

The Arizona Cardinals face the Seattle Seahawks in a matchup featuring backup quarterbacks Gardner Minshew and Drew Lock. Lock has played well when filling in for Sam Darnold and has won games in his absence.

Arizona’s quarterback situation remains difficult to understand. The Cardinals signed Jacoby Brissett during the offseason, paid him based partly on his second-half comebacks last year, and then traded him at the beginning of November for limited compensation. They also traded Harrison, raising questions about whether the organization is now chasing draft picks rather than wins.

Minshew can win a couple of games, but the Cardinals may still find themselves searching for another quarterback. He is expected to play against Seattle before facing a difficult stretch against the Rams and Kansas City.

Carson Beck could eventually receive starts so Arizona can evaluate him. That opportunity could come in Week 12 against the Washington Commanders or after the bye, with games against the Jets, New Orleans, Las Vegas and San Francisco late in the season.

Michael Wilson will play after avoiding the final injury report despite a rib injury. That is notable after his strong performance in last week’s finish.

Seattle enters the matchup following a difficult home loss to the Chicago Bears. Questions remain about the direction of the Seahawks’ running game. Charbonnet may have returned too soon, while Jadarian Price has not been given enough opportunity. JSN remains the most dependable option and appears capable of producing regardless of the quarterback.

Algier faces a difficult matchup against Seattle’s strong run defense. If the Seahawks build an early lead, Arizona may have to move away from its running game sooner than desired.

The move to Minshew appears temporary. He is considered a top-five backup, but expectations should remain limited when he moves from entering games in relief to serving as the starter. The larger question is why Arizona signed Brissett before the season only to trade him months later, leaving the team positioned to prioritize future picks over victories.