Report: Gardner Minshew will likely need season-ending elbow surgery

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Gardner Minshew II is undergoing tests on his right arm and elbow after sustaining an injury during a 17-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, according to multiple reports. Coach Mike LaFleur stated Monday that Minshew was hit in the arm by Seahawks pass rusher Dante Fowler while attempting to throw on the final play of the first half. NFL.com noted that Minshew is seeking additional medical opinions to confirm if he requires season-ending surgery on a torn UCL. Although Minshew grabbed his arm immediately following the strip-sack, he remained in the game and finished with 166 yards on 21-of-30 passing without missing a snap.

Should Minshew be sidelined for the duration of the 2026 campaign, third-round rookie Carson Beck is in line to take over as the starting quarterback. NFL.com reported that Beck would become the first signal-caller from the 2026 draft class to make a start. Beck's college career included five seasons at Georgia and a final year at Miami (Florida), where he accumulated 11,725 passing yards, 88 touchdowns, and 32 interceptions. He has not appeared in a regular-season game setting since the Hall of Fame game on August 6 due to injuries, but LaFleur reported that Beck is doing good regarding recent back spasms.

To add depth to the quarterback room, ESPN reported that the Cardinals are signing veteran Josh Johnson off the Cincinnati Bengals practice squad. Coach LaFleur noted that foundationally the team runs similar offensive concepts for both Beck and Minshew. The Cardinals sit at the bottom of the NFC West with a 3-6 record and recently traded Jacoby Brissett to the Baltimore Ravens. If Beck starts, he will face the Los Angeles Rams in Week 10 without starting center Hjalte Froholdt, who is in concussion protocol, and without wide receiver Michael Wilson, who is out for the season with a neck fracture.