So the quarterback circus going forward is now resolved. Well, at least for the next four weeks.
The back-and-forth between Kyler Murray and Jacoby Brissett as the starting quarterback ended Wednesday when the franchise placed Murray on IR in an effort to give him more time to recover from an ankle injury he suffered in the Tennessee Titans game in Week 5.
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Brissett is now the undisputed main interlocutor for at least a month. The offense has been successful in all three games in which it has controlled the game plan, including the loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football. The 27-17 score wasn’t really that close, as the Cardinals defense came alive and didn’t falter late in the game for a change.
The receivers are now getting more involved in the offense, along with the safe hands of TE Trey McBride. The offensive line has done a decent job, although there were moments in pass protection that need to be addressed. Brissett is a patient pocket QB who will run or scramble when necessary, but prefers to continue looking downfield.
After the Cowboys’ victory, Arizona head coach Jonathan Gannon indicated that Murray would remain his starter. He addressed this twice during his post-match press conference. But after returning to the practice facility, doctors examined Murray. Talk about the next step began Tuesday night.
On Wednesday, after a meeting with all concerned, it was decided to rest Murray and wait until he is 100% healthy before he can return to the field. So, he was added to IR for a minimum of four weeks.
Well. A problem solved, if only for a short period.
Brissett is now the second-lowest paid starting quarterback in the league. His salary cap hit for this year is $5.31 million. New Orleans Saints rookie Tyler Shough now starts at $1.97 million cap hit.
Next on the agenda: what if something happens to Brissett?
The issue is no longer who is the starter between Murray and Brissett, and the one not chosen would become the substitute. But now, who will do the backup?
Kedon Slovis is currently listed as QB3. Does it slide up to back up? Or will the Cardinals bring in someone who has more experience?
First of all, who is Slovis?
His measurements are 6′-2″ and 223 pounds. He went undrafted in the 2024 NFL draft out of BYU and is considered a pro-style quarterback. He is a local kid who grew up in Scottsdale, where he attended Desert Mountain High School.
Slovis became a starter his junior and senior seasons. His high school stats include 5,549 yards with 50 touchdowns and only 11 interceptions. His quarterbacks coach was Cardinals Hall of Famer Kurt Warner. Following his senior year, he was named to the PrepStar All-Western Region team and received an academic honor.
He had 12 college offers as a three-star athlete, including from North Carolina State, Arizona State, San Jose State, SMU, Boise State, USC, Oregon State, Northern Arizona, Hawaii, New Mexico State, Indiana and Vanderbilt.
He chose USC and played there for three years. He was voted the 2019 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year. In his first college game off the bench, the starter hurt his knee and Slovis suddenly became the starter. He started 12 games and threw for 3,502 yards with 30 touchdowns and only nine interceptions. In his second season, he was named First Team All-Pac 12 and was on the preseason Heisman list and the preseason Davey O’Brien Award watch.
Then COVID hit and USC only played six games. In those few games, Slovis averaged 320.2 yards per game. After his junior year at USC, he entered the transfer portal and ended up at Pitt for one season. On December 5, 2022, Slovis announced that he would re-enter the transfer portal as a graduate transfer.
Now in his fifth senior year due to the pandemic, Slovis transferred to BYU, where he had his worst statistical season with just 1,716 yards with 12 touchdowns against six interceptions.
During his college career, Slovis threw for 11,689 yards with 989 completions, 80 touchdowns, 39 interceptions, 11.2 yards per reception average, and averaged 254.1 passing yards per game.
The NFL draft has come and gone in 2024, and Slovis signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted rookie free agent. He was also selected in the second round of the United Football League (UFL) draft. Slovis was released by the Colts in the final cut, then was signed by the Houston Texans to their practice squad. At the next training camp, he was cut on the last day. The Cardinals then added him to their practice squad on August 28. Less than two months later, he was elevated to Arizona’s 53-man roster, where he remains.
So far, Slovis has not played in any NFL regular season games.
The Cardinals may want to try to find an experienced guy to back up Brissett and leave Slovis at QB3, where he can develop further. Keep in mind that this list of available quarterbacks has been curated quite well. Several teams have had issues with starting and backup quarterbacks and therefore needed a capable corps and drafted the best.
What should the Cardinals look for in a backup quarterback, even if it’s just for four weeks?
On the one hand: experience. Consider that the Cardinals are on a winning streak and there is a glimmer of hope that they can secure a wild card spot. But the victories must keep coming.
Brissett gets injured, either for one game or a series of games. Does Arizona want a rookie to take the field? Or a guy who at least has a few games under his belt?
With that in mind, absent are guys who may have been great college players, but have not yet cut their teeth in the big league. That being said, Kyle McCord on the Eagles’ practice squad was omitted. So was Easton Stick on the Falcons practice squad or the Colts practice squad, Brett Rypien. Or even Kyle Trask, who was just released from the Buccaneers, but has played in just seven NFL games (in cleanup situations) without starting.
This list isn’t pretty, but it’s the best available for a quarterback who has played in a few games and wouldn’t shy away from being thrown into an actual live game.
Jeff Driskel (6′-4″, 231 lbs.)
Pro: NFL: 49ers, Bengals, Lions, Broncos, Texans, Cardinals, Browns, Commanders, Raiders
Driskel has experience and was recently working out with the Cardinals, so the coaches already know him. He was a sixth-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers in 2016, and they signed him to a four-year, $2.45 million contract. In his second year, he was cut on the last day. He was claimed by the Cincinnati Bengals, where he was a backup for three years.
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He was also a sought-after baseball outfield prospect and was drafted by the Boston Red Sox.
Driskel has played for nine NFL teams, including the Cardinals in 2023, where he bounced back and forth between the practice squad and the main roster. He was on the Las Vegas Raiders practice squad this season until October 8.
He has played in 25 NFL games with 12 starts. His stats include 229 completions on 391 attempts for 2,394 yards, 16 TDs, 10 picks, 112 first down conversions and a 58.6% completion percentage.
Trevor Siemian (6′-3″, 220 pounds)
Tennessee Titans Practice Squad
Pro: NFL Broncos, Jets, Saints, Bears, Jets, Titans
Siemian has a Super Bowl ring and has been with seven NFL clubs since going in the seventh round of the 2015 NFL draft. He is currently on the Titans’ practice squad. He has played in the NFL since 2015.
He had played in 40 NFL games with 33 starts, so he has experience. His career stats include 707 completions on 1,208 attempts for 7,751 yards with 44 TDs, 32 picks, 370 first down conversions and a 58.5% completion percentage.
From 2016 to 2017, he started 24 games for the Denver Broncos.
Bryce Perkins (6′-2″, 215 lbs.)
Pro: NFL Los Angeles Rams (2020, 2021, 2022), UFL Michigan Panthers (2024, 2025), NFL Carolina Panthers (2025)
Perkins played two seasons in the UFL and was named to the All-UFL team last season, as well as the league’s Offensive Player of the Year and UFL MVP.
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He had a stellar career at Virginia, where he threw for 6,218 yards in two seasons with 47 touchdowns and 21 picks. He went undrafted in the 2020 NFL draft, signed with the Los Angeles Rams and won a Super Bowl ring. He played in five games with one start in three seasons, either on the main roster or the practice squad.
In his two seasons in the UFL, he had 1,685 yards with 11 touchdowns and three interceptions. He played in 22 games. After his MVP season, he was in Carolina camp and was cut in the final cut.