Kurt Warner shares expectation levels on rookie QBs Fernando Mendoza, Carson Beck making their first career starts

Fernando Mendoza and Carson Beck are trading one high-profile stage for another. 

The rookie quarterbacks' first NFL starts will come against last year's NFC Championship participants after most recently facing each other in the College Football National Championship Game between Miami and Indiana. 

Why Kurt Warner is lowering expectations 

Kurt Warner joined "The Rich Eisen Show" earlier this week and broke down his expectations for the two rookies, Mendoza and Beck, making their NFL debuts this weekend. 

"It's been the Kirk Cousins and Brock Bowers show, and they've been keeping this team in games for a number of weeks now," Warner said. "Do I expect Fernando to be able to do that when he steps on the field the first time? No, I don't, so I'm not going to throw that expectation out there ... I expect there to be some lumps, I expect there to be some struggles, as they try to figure out these pieces and help out their young quarterback."

Expecting Mendoza to step into that environment and immediately replicate Cousins' command of the offense would be unrealistic. Warner's point is that Mendoza's debut shouldn't be judged by passing yards or even the final score, as much as the traits he displays under pressure. 

The encouraging signs will be subtle: Does he process quickly? Does Mendoza get the offense in and out of the right plays, and can he protect the football? 

Welcome to the NFL: Carson Beck faces Myles Garrett, Aaron Donald with an injury-depleted offense

Regarding Beck, he will be facing the front four unit headlined by Myles Garrett and Aaron Donald that generated a 41.9% pressure rate in Week 9 against the Washington Commanders, according to Pro Football Focus. 

Without his starting running back, Jeremiyah Love, and two starting receivers, Kendrick Bourne and Michael Wilson, out for the year. It's a tall task, and Warner reiterated, hope for the organizations and fan bases is "to see something in these situations." 

Warner is arguing for flexibility over familiarity. With Beck making his first NFL start and multiple offensive playmakers sidelined, Arizona's success may depend more on how effectively they all adapt. 

"If those guys show something from a competitive standpoint, I think that checks a huge box, perks some ears up, and go, 'hey, maybe we got something here,'" Warner said.

"The plan is understanding the strengths of these different players," he added as he referenced when he played for the Cardinals, WR Anquan Boldin getting banged up and leaning on Steve Breaston, who went for over 1,000 yards receiving in 2008. 

The Cardinals need their offensive playmakers such as Simi Fehoko, Reggie Virgil, Elijah Higgins and their backfield led by Tyler Allgeier to be the best versions of themselves, and a game plan that allows Beck to play to his strengths. 

"It becomes so important to say, 'Hey, we're just going to make this next guy do what Michael Wilson does," Warner said. "No, we've got to figure out what these guys do well, and we've got to build that into our plan the best we can."