Arizona Cardinals 2026 training camp position battle to watch

· Yahoo Sports

NFL teams have wrapped up their respective organized team activities (OTAs) and minicamps, and after a near month-long break, they’ll pick things back up near the end of July for training camp.

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The first preseason game takes place on Thursday, Aug. 6 on NBC when the Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals face off in the Hall of Fame Game. The rest of the preseason’s first week will take place from Aug. 13-15, followed by Week 2 on Aug. 20-23, and Week 3 on Aug. 27-29.

But before the preseason gets underway, teams must first report to training camp. The Cardinals are set to report to camp on July 22, and below is their biggest position battle to watch this summer.

Position Battle: QB | Jacoby Brissett vs. Gardner Minshew vs. Carson Beck

Jacoby Brissett #7 of the Arizona Cardinals passes the ball during a game against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on January 04, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

Brissett began the offseason holding out for a bigger contract, but the Cardinals ultimately called his bluff and the 33-year-old signal-caller reported to minicamp, and despite sitting out during OTAs is believed to be the frontrunner for the starting job.

But the reason the Cardinals weren’t sweating Brissett’s holdout is because of who they have behind him.

Minshew has 47 games of starting experience under his belt, and he is more than capable of leading the offense had Brissett held out into the regular season. Plus with the amount of QBs expected to be available near the top of the 2027 draft, the Cardinals aren’t really putting much emphasis on winning games next season.

Carson Beck #19 of the Arizona Cardinals practices in team rookie mincamp at Dignity Health Arizona Cardinals Training Center on May 08, 2026 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Then there’s Beck — a third-round rookie who led the Miami Hurricanes to the national championship game just a few months ago. Beck has upside, and if Arizona does consider drafting a QB early in Round 1 next year, it might want to see what Beck can do in2 026 before making that decision.

Based on head coach Mike LaFleur’s comments, it sounds like Beck could be putting pressure on the QBs ahead of him on the depth chart with his work ethic since joining the team shortly after the draft.

“Beck said he has been putting in 13-hour days at the Cardinals’ facility, going beyond what Arizona is asking of its rookies,” ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss said. “After the rookies are done with their meetings, Beck spends time with offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett and quarterbacks coach Matt Schaub. Beck also has access to first-year head coach Mike LaFleur if questions arise.”

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