Beck out vs. Raiders with rib injury
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- Carson Beck won't play in Thursday's preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders due to a rib injury sustained in last Thursday's Hall of Fame Game, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
- The rib injury is not considered serious, though Beck practiced through soreness all week before the Cardinals held him out as a precaution and to allow more healing time.
- Beck's absence will derail a rematch with Raiders rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft; the two dueled in last season's College Football Playoff National Championship, won by Mendoza's Indiana Hoosiers over Beck's Miami Hurricanes.
- The Cardinals had previously said Jacoby Brissett would start the game while Kirk Cousins will start for the Raiders.
- Beck, a third-round pick, posted an impressive preseason debut in a 33-30 loss to the Carolina Panthers last week, completing 15 of 19 passes for 188 yards and a touchdown with a 125.4 quarterback rating.
Why it matters: The marquee Beck-Mendoza rookie QB rematch — a sequel to last season's CFP National Championship — is shelved, robbing Thursday's preseason game of its headline draw. For Arizona, it delays further evaluation of their third-round rookie after a 15-of-19, 125.4-rated debut, with Jacoby Brissett now getting the start instead.
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