The Raiders and Cardinals open the preseason tonight in Las Vegas. One of the more intriguing storylines was each team fielding their high profile rookie quarterbacks. In the case of the Raiders, Fernando Mendoza is expected to get "plenty of reps" according to head coach Klint Kubiak. On the other side of the ball, that won't be the case.
Rookie QB Carson Beck will not be taking the field for the Cardinals due to a rib injury.
#AZCardinals QB Carson Beck won’t play in tonight’s preseason game against the #Raiders due to a rib injury sustained in last Thursday’s Hall of Fame game. The injury is not considered serious.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 13, 2026
Beck practiced through soreness all week but the team decided to keep him out… pic.twitter.com/UukQWuux2V
Beck was the third QB
taken in April's draft. Mendoza was, of course, taken first overall, then the Rams took Ty Simpson with the 13th overall pick. Next up was Beck who was selected at the top of the third round, pick 65 overall.
The University of Miami star holds the hopes of a Cardinals franchise that he can develop into a starting quarterback. If that development doesn't come quickly enough, or the team struggles this season under starter Jacoby Brissett, they may just find themselves in position to draft a QB again at the top of next year's draft.
But if Beck does start to show promise this season, it's possible the Cardinals stick with him to see what they have. The Hall of Fame game was a first look at his skillset at the NFL level. But the encore will have to wait.
This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: No rookie QB showdown in Las Vegas tonight between Raiders, Cardinals
