GLENDALE — The Arizona Cardinals plan to place their primary players on the field Thursday against the Las Vegas Raiders, but coach Mike LaFleur cautioned their time will be limited and will depend on how the contest unfolds.
Starters will play, but how much is up in the air
LaFleur confirmed Tuesday that the team’s top personnel will get some preseason snaps, and that includes quarterback Jacoby Brissett. How long those players stay on the field will be decided by in-game circumstances.
“they're all going to play.”
LaFleur added that the appearances won’t be extensive. The coach indicated starters could see a single series — or a maximum of two — before coaches begin to substitute more extensively. That approach follows a week in which Arizona left its starters on the sideline for the Hall of Fame Game against the Carolina Panthers, a matchup mainly used to showcase backups and evaluate depth.
What to watch on Thursday
- Whether Brissett starts and how many drives he handles.
- How the presence of starters changes the workload for preseason quarterbacks such as Carson Beck and Kedon Slovis.
- How coaches balance getting game reps with protecting key players from injury.
Last week’s exhibition in Canton gave Carson Beck his first preseason start before Kedon Slovis took over in the second half. With starters entering the mix Thursday, the playing time for Beck, Slovis and other reserve quarterbacks will be something to follow closely.
| Player group | Expected appearance |
|---|---|
| Starters (including Brissett) | Likely 1 drive, up to 2 |
| Backups/preseason starters | More extended second-half reps |
This measured plan follows a trend across the league of limiting starters in early exhibitions to reduce injury risk while still providing a chance to assess game readiness. For a roster in flux, brief live reps can offer coaches a look at execution under pressure without committing starters to extended exposure.
Fans wanting to see the team’s top names should expect to catch them in short bursts. For those tracking the quarterback competition and depth-chart decisions, the second half — when backups typically receive extended looks — will remain the most instructive portion of the night.
Tickets and broadcast details for Thursday’s preseason game remain available through the team and league channels.
Diego Ramos, News Block — Arizona correspondent
