Cardinals rookie Carson Beck will make first NFL start against Rams

Arizona Cardinals rookie Carson Beck will make his first NFL start Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams, coach Mike LaFleur said Wednesday. Arizona will turn to its third starting quarterback in as many weeks.

Beck takes over for Gardner Minshew, who hurt his throwing arm during Arizona's Nov. 8 defeat to the Seattle Seahawks, an injury ESPN described as a UCL injury. Arizona placed Minshew on injured reserve Tuesday, and LaFleur said Wednesday that he requires surgery and will miss the rest of the season. Minshew had become the starter after Arizona traded Jacoby Brissett to the Baltimore Ravens.

Arizona beat the Rams in Week 6, making Sunday's meeting a rematch. The Cardinals are 3-6, while Los Angeles is 5-4.

"I know this isn't too big for him," LaFleur said of Beck. His advice to the rookie, LaFleur said, was, "Go have some fun, man. Go let it sling."

It's Carson Beck time in Arizona. Cardinals HC Mike LaFleur announces Beck will start for Arizona on Sunday vs. the Rams.

Arizona going on its third starter in as many weeks.

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) November 11, 2026

Beck, 23, joined Arizona as a third-round pick in April and has yet to play in a regular-season game. He was inactive on game days for the first eight weeks, when he served as the emergency third quarterback. Against Seattle, he was the backup.

CBS Sports reported that Beck will be the third rookie quarterback drafted outside the first two rounds to start this season, a total last reached in 1987.

The rookie will encounter Rams pass rushers Aaron Donald and Myles Garrett. CBS Sports counted only four previous quarterbacks who made their first career start against two rushers with 100 or more sacks each.

Garrett returned last week and had three sacks in his first appearance since Week 1, USA Today reported.

Asked about those Rams rushers, LaFleur joked, "Who do they got?" He said his only expectation for Beck was to play one play at a time.

"You never really know until you get to the live bullets on Sunday," LaFleur said, though he expressed full confidence that Beck is ready to play.

Beck inherits a depleted receiving group. Michael Wilson and Kendrick Bourne are out for the season, and Arizona traded Marvin Harrison Jr. to the Houston Texans.

ESPN reported that Simi Fehoko, Reggie Virgil and Devin Duvernay have combined for eight catches among Arizona's active receivers this season, compared with 94 for its tight ends.

Tight end Trey McBride leads the NFL with 73 catches through Week 9.

LaFleur said Beck's experience with the receivers should be an advantage. "He knows how these guys move and he knows the indicators that they're given," LaFleur said.

Quarterbacks coach Matt Schaub said Beck ran the scout-team offense as the backup, doubling his workload. "He's a confident kid by nature, so he's reserved, but I mean he's been what he's been since he's been here," Schaub said.

Beck completed 15 of 19 passes against the Carolina Panthers in the Hall of Fame Game that opened the preseason, throwing one touchdown and no interceptions.

Arizona added veteran quarterback Josh Johnson and quarterback Joey Aguilar to its active roster Tuesday. It was not immediately known who will back up Beck.

Beck last started in January, when Miami fell 27-21 to Fernando Mendoza and Indiana in the College Football Playoff national championship game. The previous game saw Beck lead Miami past Ole Miss in the Fiesta Bowl quarterfinal at State Farm Stadium, the site of his NFL debut Sunday.