Cardinals insider shares update on Jacoby Brissett, Carson Beck QB uncertainty

A report shared in early July suggested that veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett staying away from the Arizona Cardinals throughout voluntary springtime workouts could open the door for 2026 third-round draft pick Carson Beck to receive an opportunity to compete with Brissett and backup Gardner Minshew II for the starting job during training camp. 

For a mailbag published by Heavy on Thursday, Cardinals insider Kyle Odegard addressed the quarterback uncertainty hovering over the franchise this summer. 

Cardinals insider "would be shocked" if Jacoby Brissett does this

"There might be some posturing over the next week or so, and maybe the Cardinals acquiesce and give Brissett a small bump in pay for 2026," Odegard wrote. "But even if they don’t budge, I would be shocked if Brissett has any sort of hold-in or hold-out when the players hit the field." 

Odegard was referencing how Brissett has wanted an adjusted contract that would include a pay raise since at least this past spring. While Arizona acquired Beck during this year's draft, ESPN's Josh Weinfuss has reported on multiple occasions that Brissett was "informed by the Cardinals that he is their starting quarterback" for the upcoming season.

For what it's worth, Brissett was recently spotted working out with multiple Cardinals players in Florida. That would lead one to believe that Brissett is preparing to be in the lineup when Arizona opens the regular season with a matchup at the Los Angeles Chargers on Sept. 13.

Jacoby Brissett expected to "settle in as the starter" for Cardinals

"It’s all well and good to ask for a raise during the idle time of the offseason," Odegard continued, "but if Brissett doesn’t take the field with his teammates, new coach Mike LaFleur may just hand the reins over to Gardner Minshew. I’d expect any offseason bluster to be gone by the time camp starts, and for Brissett to settle in as the starter, at least for the first six weeks of the season."

As Odegard hinted, Arizona could bench Brissett in favor of Minshew or Beck if the team has a losing record around or after Halloween. As of Friday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Cardinals as the betting favorites at +250 odds to finish the 2026 season with the fewest wins in the league.