Cardinals Coach Downplays Concerns Over Jacoby Brissett’s Absence

The 33-year-old Jacoby Brissett will receive $4.8 million from his current base salary deal he signed with the Cardinals last year.

Cardinals Coach Downplays Concerns Over Jacoby Brissett’s Absence

Jacoby Brissett (Image via Arizona Cardinals)

In Short
  • Mike LaFleur downplayed concerns over Jacoby Brissett's absence from voluntary workouts, stating they are not mandatory.
  • Brissett is seeking a contract raise from his current $4.8 million salary for the upcoming season.
  • Carson Beck, drafted 65th overall, could step in as starting quarterback if Brissett and Gardner Minshew II underperform.

The Arizona Cardinals head coach, Mike LaFleur, addressed the absence of their potential Week One starting quarterback, Jacoby Brissett, from the voluntary workouts last month at the press conference on Friday. The 33-year-old has reportedly requested the team for a better contract before his current contract expires next year.

Brissett, who was drafted in the third round in 2016 by the New England Patriots, signed a two-year, $12.5 million contract with the Cardinals. Though he was set to serve as the backup for Kyler Murray, he was forced to take the field for most of the season after Murray was injured during a Week 6 game against the Indianapolis Colts. With Murray’s trade to the Minnesota Vikings, Brissett has become a potential starter for the season.

As a starting quarterback, Brissett has requested a raise in his contract from the paltry $4.8 million he will receive this year. His absence was speculated by fans as a reaction to their inaction on a contract extension.

However, LaFleur has downplayed the said absence and highlighted that the event wasn’t mandatory.

He’s played a lot of football, and we’re in communication. He knows what the expectation is. Everything’s good from a dialogue standpoint. But like we said, this is voluntary, and so that’s where we’ll leave it.  

Mike LaFleur told reporters

In 2025-26, Brissett started in 12 games for the Cardinals, and threw for a career high 3,366 yards and 23 touchdowns while completing 64.9% of all his passes. He also rushed for 168 yards and scored a touchdown on the ground. In a regular-season loss to division rivals San Francisco 49ers, Brissett broke the record for most pass completions in a game (47 of 52), held by Drew Bledsoe and Jared Goff (45). His 452 yards in that game were also the seventh-best figures recorded by a Cardinal quarterback.

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Carson Beck could become Arizona’s starting QB if things don’t pan out with Jacoby Brissett

The Arizona Cardinals are most likely to start the season with Jacoby Brissett at center and their latest hire, Gardner Minshew II, as the backup to the former. However, in a scenario where things don’t pan out well with Brissett and Minshew II underperform, Miami fans could see their homeboy Carson Beck taking over in Glendale.

Carson Beck, speaking to the media on Thursday (Image via Arizona Cardinals)
Carson Beck, speaking to the media on Thursday (Image via Arizona Cardinals)

Beck, drafted 65th overall at the 2026 NFL Draft, has considerable experience in college football, including a National Championship final earlier this year. In the PHNX Arizona podcast, Beck admitted that he’s confident to step up if required.

There’s only one guy out there (at quarterback). … Obviously, I would love to play and perform, but again, we’ll see where it takes me.

Beck told reporters on Thursday

He also mentioned that his arm has gotten considerably better since the playoffs and the final. He added that he’s throwing much better because of it.

I would say toward the end of the season and the playoffs, my arm felt great. But it only continues to get stronger. And now that I’m, what, a year and a half out of surgery, my arm is the strongest it’s ever been. I mean, I feel like I’ve been throwing the ball really well recently.  

The former Georgia Bulldogs standout was once a projected first-round pick before his last season reduced his glitz. The Cardinals choosing him comes after an exceptional season with the Hurricanes, leading them to the first National Championship final in 25 years.

The Cardinals are shaping up to be one of the most interesting teams in the NFC with their recent additions and their playoff storylines. Jeremiyah Love, whom the franchise drafted third overall, and Marvin Harrison Jr. are two of the highly promising stars to watch in Arizona this year.

It’s also important to note that the Cardinals haven’t been to the playoffs in four seasons, and the NFC West title has eluded them for ten seasons. Though they don’t have it as bad as the New York Jets, the Cardinals would love to escape the gloomy days of disappointing losses. And it would be interesting to see who is the guy leading them.

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