The Arizona Cardinals used the 65th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on Carson Beck, adding the former Miami quarterback to a room already led by veteran Jacoby Brissett. Brissett has since restructured his contract to remain with the team, and he enters the preseason as the clear favorite to start Week 1.
Beck's professional debut did little to quiet the conversation around Arizona's quarterback depth. In the Hall of Fame Game, the rookie completed 15 of 19 passes for 188 yards and a touchdown.
Thursday's preseason matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders looked like another chance for Beck to build on that showing.
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
Instead, the Cardinals ruled him out after he came away from the Hall of Fame Game dealing with minor rib discomfort.
Beck took a late second-quarter hit from defensive end Jared Harrison-Hunte, who landed on top of him following a sack. The injury pushes Beck's next preseason outing to Arizona's home game against the Dallas Cowboys.
Brissett is already set to start against Las Vegas, with Gardner Minshew II and Kedon Slovis expected to split the remaining snaps once Brissett comes off the field after a series or two.
Beck's path to Arizona has had some turns along the way. He declared for the 2025 NFL Draft before pulling his name back and going to Miami for a season, a decision that paid off.
He earned Third-team All-ACC honors and was named Offensive MVP of the Fiesta Bowl and College Football Playoff semifinal after leading Miami past Ole Miss. Beck finished second among FBS quarterbacks in completion percentage at 72.4%, completing 338 of 467 attempts, and ranked fourth nationally with 3,813 passing yards.
He tied for sixth with 30 touchdown passes against 12 interceptions, started all 16 games, and added 62 rushing yards and two scores on 43 carries. He also missed spring practices this year while recovering from an elbow injury.
