GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Arizona Cardinals’ quarterback picture got murkier, not clearer, on the second day of training camp. Jacoby Brissett did not take a single snap during 11-on-11 drills Friday, according to ESPN, while Gardner Minshew, Carson Beck and Kedon Slovis ran every rep in his place.
Brissett went through individual drills and stood alongside the other quarterbacks during team periods, but he didn’t run a play. ESPN reported that first-year coach Mike LaFleur said he can’t yet put a timeline on when Brissett will catch up to speed in a new offense.
That’s the backdrop for a quarterback competition that was already crowded a day earlier. Brissett — who started the final 12 games last season — was the presumed favorite to open the season under center, but he skipped the team’s voluntary offseason program entirely while seeking a new contract. He showed up for Thursday’s start of camp and worked with the other quarterbacks, a sign a new deal could be close.
LaFleur wasn’t tipping his hand on the depth chart Thursday. “I’d describe it as practice one on July 23,” he said, according to the nwaonline. A day later, per ESPN, he sounded a similar note, telling reporters the plan is simply to get Brissett up to speed with this year’s playbook rather than crown a starter early.
Brissett’s Contract Standoff
Money is at the center of this. The 33-year-old Brissett is in the final year of a two-year, $12.5 million contract, but only $1.5 million of that is guaranteed, and he’s set to earn $5.39 million in 2026, according to Pro Football Rumors. If he opens the season as the starter without a new deal, he’d be among the lowest-paid quarterbacks in the league.
Brissett had strong individual numbers a season ago — 3,366 yards passing, 23 touchdowns and eight interceptions — but the Cardinals went 1-11 in his starts as the team finished last in the NFC West at 3-14.
Safety Budda Baker weighed in on the situation earlier this month, posting on X: “Just want bro to get his s— done… he is not asking for what you think.” —
Just want bro to get his shit done… he is not asking for what you think. Bro is asking for below the bare minimum. Let’s just get it done!!!
— Budda Baker (@Buddabaker3) July 9, 2026
Baker stood by that Thursday. “I definitely think Jacoby did a great job coming in last year,” Baker said, according to the nwaonline. “I know we didn’t get the wins that we wanted to get, but I think he commanded the offense at a high level.”
| Quarterback | 2025 Status | 2026 Camp Role |
|---|---|---|
| Jacoby Brissett | 12 starts, 3,366 yds, 23 TD, 8 INT | Learning new scheme; no 11-on-11 reps yet |
| Gardner Minshew | Backup | Took first-team reps all offseason |
| Carson Beck | Rookie, 3rd-round pick | Getting early 11-on-11 reps |
Injuries and Off-Field Issues Cloud Camp
Two starters opened camp on the physically unable to perform list. Left tackle Paris Johnson is dealing with a knee issue, and edge rusher Josh Sweat, who had a career-high 12 sacks last season, is also nursing a knee. LaFleur downplayed both. “The Paris thing, that’s really, honestly nothing,” he said. “We’re all on the same page, it’s really just maintenance stuff so he’ll be back before you know it.” He added that Sweat “was in great spirits and looked really good” when he saw him.
Johnson and Sweat still count toward the 90-man roster limit and can return to practice at any point in the preseason. Cornerback Garrett Williams (Achilles) and tight end Tip Reiman (ankle) remain on PUP as they continue recovering from injuries suffered last season.
Off-field news has also shadowed LaFleur’s first camp. The NFL suspended Cardinals personnel executive Ryan Gold indefinitely on July 17 for violating the league’s gambling policy, with the league saying its investigation found Gold shared confidential, non-public information about the team’s 2026 draft picks before they were announced and placed parlay bets on NFL and college games, per the NFL. Gold is in his 13th season with the organization.
Separately, offensive lineman Isaiah Adams was arrested in Ontario, Canada, on four weapons charges, according to the NFL. Adams, 25, faces charges including possession of a firearm obtained in a crime and possession of a restricted or prohibited firearm; he was one of four people arrested as part of a Durham Regional Police guns-and-gangs investigation, two others of whom face fentanyl trafficking charges. His attorney, Adam Weisberg, said in a statement that Adams is “completely innocent in this matter” and had no knowledge of any firearm.
Adams, who is competing for a starting spot heading into his third season, was at camp Thursday. “He’s doing good,” LaFleur said. “I’m not going to comment too much on that obviously… but he’s doing good and it’s good to see him.”
What’s Next
None of this points to a quick resolution at quarterback. Brissett still needs to get comfortable in LaFleur’s offense before he’s trusted with first-team reps in team drills, and his contract situation remains unsettled. Minshew and Beck, meanwhile, keep piling up reps with the starters — reps that matter in a competition LaFleur insists hasn’t officially started. Expect the snap counts, not the press conferences, to tell the real story over the next two weeks of camp.
