The Arizona Cardinals are dividing scout-team quarterback work between Gardner Minshew and rookie Carson Beck as the team seeks to give Beck regular practice opportunities during the season.
The scout team has limited time under NFL practice restrictions. Its weekly schedule includes 32 live plays on Wednesday, 36 on Thursday and 20 on Friday. Backup players generally receive no other practice work during the season, while third-string players often do not practice at all.
Beck, a third-round pick, is currently the Cardinals’ third-string quarterback. Coach Mike LaFleur said the team chose to share the scout-team repetitions because Minshew has extensive professional experience while Beck is still gaining his first NFL experience. “So as you're trying to develop these guys, we just thought it was right to do that,” LaFleur said.
The repetitions place Beck against Arizona’s starting defense and expose him to concepts similar to those he may see in games, although he is not running the Cardinals’ own offense. Beck also receives daily mental work in quarterback and full-offense meetings. He said the practice opportunities are important for adjusting to NFL speed and continuing to develop.
The arrangement also gives Beck work after a ribs injury sustained during the Hall of Fame game limited him for two weeks and kept him out of the Cardinals’ final three preseason games. In that game, Beck completed 15 of 19 passes for 188 yards and a touchdown.
