Gardner Minshew set to start Cardinals’ next preseason game vs. Cowboys, Mike LaFleur says

The Arizona Cardinals will give Gardner Minshew his first preseason start of the summer when they face the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday, according to head coach Mike LaFleur. The decision keeps Arizona in a quarterback-competition mode during the exhibition slate, with the team already having used two other starters in its prior preseason games.

LaFleur told reporters on Thursday that Minshew will get the start against Dallas. The announcement is notable because it marks the third different starting quarterback in as many preseason games for Arizona, a fast turn that reflects how the team is evaluating the position in game situations rather than treating the first-team reps as a fixed, single option.

The rotation began with rookie Carson Beck taking the first start in the Hall of Fame Game, Arizona’s opening preseason appearance. Beck’s time as the preseason starter established the early baseline for how the Cardinals wanted their quarterback group to operate, with the exhibition serving as the setting for decision-making, tempo, and protections under live conditions.

Last week, Jacoby Brissett started the next preseason game for Arizona. That move continued the pattern of letting multiple quarterbacks work with the first unit, giving each a chance to demonstrate command, chemistry with the offense, and responsiveness within the coaching framework the Cardinals are installing for the regular season.

By naming Minshew the starter for the Cowboys game, LaFleur is essentially using the Cowboys matchup as another checkpoint, not the conclusion of an internal competition. Preseason quarterback evaluations often hinge on whether a quarterback can run the offense within the play calling plan while limiting avoidable errors, and Arizona’s approach this month suggests the staff is seeking a broader sample size across quarterbacks.

The Cardinals’ preseason rotation also has practical implications for how their offensive identity takes shape in exhibition games. With different quarterbacks running the huddle, coordinators typically tailor play-calling tendencies, cadence, and rollout concepts to fit each player’s reads and comfort level. That means the Saturday game could look different from previous Arizona preseason outings even if the base package is the same.

For the Cardinals, the immediate question after Thursday’s announcement is how much continuity Arizona will prioritize while changing starters. If the first unit keeps similar schemes and personnel groupings, it can help the organization compare quarterback decision-making on a like-for-like basis. If the staff shifts toward tailored packages, the evaluation will be broader but less uniform, emphasizing each quarterback’s specific strengths rather than a single shared system.

For fans and roster-watchers, Saturday’s game vs. Dallas is the clearest next marker in Arizona’s quarterback storyline. Minshew’s start will be the next data point in how the Cardinals view the position heading into the final stages of preseason, and it will determine what the coaching staff prioritizes going into subsequent practices and final roster decisions. Until the Cardinals’ regular-season plan becomes clearer, expect the preseason to continue functioning as both a performance test and a roster-building tool rather than a definitive ranking.