Cardinals’ Gardner Minshew will start against Cowboys

The Arizona Cardinals will start Gardner Minshew against the Dallas Cowboys in this weekend’s preseason game. That much has been announced.

Minshew has been getting plenty of first-team reps, and is at the ready for the backup role or for a starting position.

Currently, Jacoby Brissett is listed on the Cardinals depth chart as the starting quarterback, with Minshew the backup and rookie Carson Beck and Kedon Slovis battling it out for QB3. This is not to say that any of these signalcallers can slide up and down the depth chart. That is what training camp and the preseason games are for.

Minshew is expected to start and play the first half along with the remainder of the second-team offense. It will be interesting to see who plays right guard for the injured Chase Bisontis. Slovis will man the second half with some second-string guys, and then the third team will get on the field. These guys are fighting for roster spots. It is assumed that Minshew will come out of the halftime locker room and start the second half, then sit.

Brissett and the starting offensive line, receivers, and tight end will not play. Several defenders are earmarked for rest, such as S Budda Baker and LB Mack Wilson. Add in rookies RB Jeremiyah Love and Beck to that short list. Love is nursing an ankle while Beck is still on the mend from sore ribs.

Arizona head coach Mike LaFleur stated that only a handful of starters on both sides of the ball will actually play.

Slovis has played quite well so far in the preseason. Of course, he is taking snaps against the other team’s third-stringers. The Cardinals will only keep three quarterbacks on their final 53-man roster, while the fourth guy will most likely be released and then re-signed to the practice squad if he isn’t claimed off waivers. Every NFL club keeps at least one more QB on their practice squad.

Final cutdowns are on Sunday, August 30. The Cardinals open on September 13 on the road against the Los Angeles Chargers with an afternoon start.

• Preseason Week 2: Saturday, Aug. 22 vs. Dallas Cowboys at State Farm Stadium (7:00 PM AZ Time)

• Preseason Week 3: Friday, Aug. 28 at Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field (5:00 PM AZ Time)

Preseason Week 2: Saturday, Aug. 22 vs. Dallas Cowboys at State Farm Stadium (7:00 PM AZ Time)

Preseason Week 3: Friday, Aug. 28 at Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field (5:00 PM AZ Time)