TEMPE, Ariz. -- Cardinals quarterback Gardner Minshew will be Arizona's starting quarterback going forward, coach Mike LaFleur said Monday, kicking off a reshuffle of the team's rotation.
Rookie Carson Beck will be Minshew's backup after previously being the emergency third quarterback, and Jacoby Brissett, who had started every game this season, will become the QB3.
The Cardinals play the Seahawks in Seattle on Sunday.
Minshew replaced Brissett with 1:35 left in the third quarter on Sunday and led Arizona to a come-from-behind 33-30 victory over the Dallas Cowboys in overtime. Arizona scored touchdowns on all four of the possessions Minshew led in regulation. He then led Arizona on the winning drive in overtime that ended with a 42-yard field goal by Chad Ryland. Minshew finished with 188 yards and three touchdowns on 17-for-23 passing.
LaFleur said Monday that the switch came down to a gut decision because he believed Arizona "needed a spark."
"He kind of showed all of us in terms of him going out there being the competitor that he is," LaFleur said of Minshew. "Doesn't shock me, obviously. The production was pretty wild in terms of the amount of points and just moving up and down the field. But he's a competitor, and he's always prepared. He's preparing like he's the starter. He's preparing like he's going to be in there for whatever snap. He supported Jacoby at a high level, too. He's been a great backup for him, been great for the room, and look forward to the challenge that we have this week with him."
Demoting Brissett to the emergency third quarterback role wasn't easy, LaFleur said. Brissett was 10-for-23 for 119 yards and was sacked four times before he was pulled Sunday. LaFleur acknowledged that the situation wasn't going to be easy on Brissett but said the veteran has handled it like a "pro."
"It's not a fun phone call," LaFleur said. "There's no book for that, obviously. There's a human element to it. I have a lot of respect for Jacoby, the person. I have a lot of respect for Jacoby, the player. Like I told you guys yesterday, it was not all on him. This was collective and starting with me, but the position that those guys sign up for, we know the deal, and we needed a spark, and obviously Gardner gave us one."
The decision to make Beck, Arizona's third-round pick this year, the backup came down to LaFleur thinking it was the "right thing to do." The coach said the move will help continue Beck's development because he'll get reps with the scout team.
Beck has been inactive all eight games this season and has been dealing with back spasms as of late, but LaFleur said the rookie is "feeling really good right now." Despite the back issue and limited reps in practice, Beck is ready, according to LaFleur.
"Obviously, it's just behind the scenes, nothing that you guys see, but I know he's prepared to go in there if need be," LaFleur said. "Again, just like Gardner, just like anyone that you ask that's going to be on this team, they're prepared as if they're going to be the starting quarterback, or they're prepared if they have to go in.
"And I know that he has full grasp of this game plan, of this system, and it's no secret, obviously, if something were to happen, it'd be nice to know what we got right there. I feel really good about where he is with his development. And so, if that were to come up, then obviously he'd be the next one in."
LaFleur said he talked with non-quarterback players before making the announcement public Monday so they wouldn't be caught off guard by the news.
"We've got a good group of guys in that locker room," LaFleur said. "I'm not worried about our locker room."
