GLENDALE – Jacoby Brissett’s Cardinals tenure could become a fascinating quarterback timeline rather than simply a one-season stopgap. In Week 1, Brissett looked like exactly what Arizona needed. He operated the offense efficiently, protected the football, and earned the highest Pro Football Focus quarterback grade of the opening week. For a team trying to establish credibility, the performance was significant. Then came his Week 2 performance against Seattle, and in the NFL, one bad week can change the narrative.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) prepares to play the Los Angeles Rams at State Farm Stadium on Dec 7, 2025, in Glendale, Ariz. © Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Jacoby Brissett struggles for Cardinals in Week 2:
Jacoby Brissett this season.
Yards per attempt: 5.7 (29th in NFL)
Yards per completion: 8.5 (last in NFL)— Kyle Odegard (@Kyle_Odegard) September 21, 2026
Jacoby Brissett looked rattled for most of the game. The OL didn’t have a great outing, but this was the second time on the same drive that the receiver in motion got open.
The Rams threw to the receiver in motion more than any team in 2025, and it’s already becoming a pattern… pic.twitter.com/dFaBE5JZHc
— Jace (@AzJace) September 21, 2026
Against one of the NFL’s more difficult defenses, Brissett came back to earth. That does not erase his Week 1 performance, but it raises the question Cardinals fans will continue asking: How many chances does a 32-year-old veteran get when the team has a young quarterback waiting? Brissett’s career provides important context. He has spent much of his NFL life as a bridge or backup quarterback, valued for experience, preparation, and stability. That makes him a logical short-term option, but it also creates a natural ceiling to the experiment.
Dec 14, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) throws downfield during the first quarter against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Carson Beck changes the equation. Arizona used a third-round pick on Beck, giving the organization a developmental quarterback with a potentially longer runway. The Cardinals do not need to rush him onto the field simply because Brissett struggles. But if Brissett becomes a quarterback who performs well against weaker defenses and repeatedly struggles against elite ones, the pressure to see what Beck can do will grow.
Aug 6, 2026; Canton, Ohio, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Beck (19) throws the ball against Carolina Panthers cornerback Corey Thornton (31) at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
For Cardinals fans, every Brissett start is now about more than the current game. It is also an evaluation of whether Arizona is building around a veteran bridge or delaying the beginning of its next quarterback era.
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Reporter Benjamin Bliklen covers the Arizona Diamondbacks, Arizona Cardinals, and Phoenix Suns for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @BenBliklen
