Cardinals' Gardner Minshew II isn't conceding starting QB job to Jacoby Brissett

While Jacoby Brissett has remained away from the Arizona Cardinals throughout voluntary springtime workouts amid his desire for a pay raise, it is expected that he will eventually return to the club to serve as its starting quarterback for at least Week 1 of the 2026 season. 

During a recent appearance on Arizona Sports 98.7, veteran and free-agency signing Gardner Minshew II suggested he doesn't plan to simply accept the Cardinals' QB2 job without giving first-year Arizona head coach Mike LaFleur something to think about this summer. 

Gardner Minshew II wants best QB to win the starting job

"I know me and Jacoby, we’ve been in that before," Minshew said about a potential quarterback competition, per Dan Morrison of Heavy. "It’s not anything new to us. At the end of the day, they’re going to play who they think is giving us the best shot. I’m not going out there against Jacoby, I’m going against the defense I’m playing. He’s not going against me. He’s going against the defense he’s playing, and we’re all just trying to do what it takes to win games." 

The Cardinals seemingly made no effort to acquire a proven quarterback after they happily moved on from 2019 No. 1 overall draft pick Kyler Murray earlier in the offseason. Back on May 18, ESPN's Josh Weinfuss revealed that Brissett was "informed by the Cardinals that he is their starting quarterback."

However, the fact that the Cardinals hadn't yet given Brissett the reworked deal he wants could lead one to believe that Minshew or rookie Carson Beck could receive an opportunity to win the QB1 gig before the preseason wraps up. 

Gardner Minshew II wants everybody with Cardinals to stick together

"So, whatever that takes, however we’ve got to do it, we’re going to support each other," Minshew added during his comments about Brissett. "That’s one of the big things in the NFL. The quarterback room is kind of your safe haven, you know? And you’re going to need these guys as you’re going through the year. So, whatever the rotations is or whatever, it’s important that everybody’s together." 

Whispers about the Cardinals' quarterback situation will quiet down if Brissett puts pen to paper on an agreement at any point this spring or summer. With each day that he doesn't, however, some understandably can't help but wonder if LaFleur and Co. may have somebody else in mind regarding the starting job.