ARI Gardner Minshew
NFL player. Position: QB. Team: ARI.
Quick Facts
- Position: QB
- Team: ARI (Arizona Cardinals)
- Career record: 17-30 as starter
2026 Outlook
Minshew signed with the Arizona Cardinals on a one-year contract as a backup to Jacoby Brissett in March 2026. However, new HC Mike LaFleur has left the door open for a QB competition in training camp rather than immediately naming Brissett the starter. With Carson Beck (rookie, 3rd round) and Shedeur Sanders (second-year) also in the mix, Minshew could see significant reps in early system installation (per Arizona Cardinals haven't told Jacoby Brissett he's the 2026 starter).
During mandatory minicamp in early June, Minshew led the first-team offense when Brissett conducted a hold-in, signaling that the Cardinals are comfortable with backup contingency plans (per Jacoby Brissett to end hold out, report to Arizona Cardinals mini-camp). By mid-June, Minshew saw majority first-team reps throughout organized team activities and minicamp, with LaFleur acknowledging the QB competition has "ramped up" and praising the intensity among all four quarterbacks competing. Despite Brissett being the projected and reported starter, his hold-in, coupled with Minshew's strong showing in OTAs, leaves genuine uncertainty about the Week 1 starter heading into training camp. (per Cardinals not naming QB1 ahead of training camp, but competition has 'ramped up' - Arizona Sports)
Role / Depth Chart
Backup. Competing with Brissett, Carson Beck, and Shedeur Sanders for snaps during camp.
Injury Status
Healthy.
Recent News
- 2026-06-22 — Four trades the Steelers should make before training camp (Four trades the Steelers should make before training camp)
- 2026-06-22 — Re-Grading the 2026 NFL Draft Quarterbacks Exposes One Massive Miscalculation (Re-Grading the 2026 NFL Draft Quarterbacks Exposes One Massive Miscalculation)
- 2026-06-22 — What we learned from every NFL team during offseason workouts - The Athletic (What we learned from every NFL team during offseason workouts - The Athletic)
- 2026-06-08 — Browns QB battle, Patrick Mahomes’ recovery among top NFL minicamp storylines - The... (Browns QB battle, Patrick Mahomes’ recovery among top NFL minicamp storylines - The...)
- 2026-06-22 — What we learned from every NFL team during offseason workouts (What we learned from every NFL team during offseason workouts)
- 2026-06-20 — Ranking The 8 Best Fits For QB Brendan Sorsby In The NFL Supplemental Draft (Ranking The 8 Best Fits For QB Brendan Sorsby In The NFL Supplemental Draft)
- 2026-02-25 — Predicting all 32 NFL starting quarterbacks for 2026 season (Predicting all 32 NFL starting quarterbacks for 2026 season)
- 2026-04-20 — 2026 NFL mock draft: Jordan Reid's predictions for 257 picks (2026 NFL mock draft: Jordan Reid's predictions for 257 picks)
- 2026-03-12 — Dynasty Fallout: How Free Agency Just Changed Player Values (Dynasty Fallout: How Free Agency Just Changed Player Values)
- 2026-06-09 — QB questions for all 32 NFL teams: Contracts, injuries, more (QB questions for all 32 NFL teams: Contracts, injuries, more)