Rookie quarterback Carson Beck has sat out the last two preseason games with a rib injury. Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur provided an update on Beck’s status in his first presser following the preseason loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
“Good with the throwing session, still TBD in terms of what Friday would look like,” said LaFleur.
Beck had a throwing session after their August 20 practice. He did not suit up for the preseason game against Dallas. LaFleur immediately ruled out the rookie for practice participation on August 24.
That has since been confirmed in a video posted on X by PHNX’s Bo Brack.
Beck suffered the injury on a third-down scramble on the Cardinals‘ opening drive of the Hall of Fame game. He attempted to grit through it before the team shut him down two weeks ago.
“He’s a tough dude. He battled through it for three or four practices before the discomfort became so real that it just wasn’t worth it. It wasn’t going to improve until we gave them a little bit of time.”
Cardinals HC Mike LaFleur on Carson Beck Missing Practices
GettyCardinals rookie QB Carson Beck remains sidelined with a rib injury suffered in the Hall of Fame Game. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The other issue with Carson Beck missing time in his first camp is the lack of development. LaFleur addressed that topic as well.
“It’s easy to magnify the quarterback position, rookie and everything else. You get better at football by practicing and playing football. So when you’re not out there, it’s hard to get better.”
LaFleur said that same principle applies to any position on the field, especially for younger players.
The Cardinals will travel to Green Bay for joint practices, a move designed to get them out of the heat. It also happens to be the team that Mike LaFleur’s older brother, Matt, is the head coach of.
It’s unclear what Beck’s participation in these practices will be. He’s entrenched as the third quarterback on the Cardinals’ depth chart, behind veterans Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew II.
LaFleur declined to comment on what the plan is for Beck this season.
What’s Next for Carson Beck?
GettyThe Carson Beck injury situation could result in some tough decisions on cutdown day. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images)
It will be interesting to see how LaFleur handles the quarterback position in their final preseason game. It could come down to how the joint practices go between the teams.
Brissett has played just one drive this preseason, leading the Cardinals to a touchdown drive. Minshew played into the third quarter of the previous two games. Second-year passer Kedon Slovis has closed out all three preseason games.
Based on the timeline and LaFleur’s comments, it doesn’t seem likely that Beck will get much action in the joint practices or preseason game against the Packers. With that in mind, the question naturally shifts to whether he’ll be well enough to play the first month of the season.
Due to the inactive rules attached to the third quarterback, the Cardinals can still roster Beck as a weekly inactive. But that could be a problem if both Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew go down in the same game.
If the Cardinals are concerned about that situation, then they might want to sign a quarterback and place Beck on injured reserve, with a designation to return.
Cardinals Provide Carson Beck Injury Update After Cowboys Game