A year ago, the Cardinals weren't sure who QB2 was going to be, but QB1 was already down – so whomever the choice, it had immediate impact.
Kyler Murray is healthy and ready to start this season. But his backup remains in question heading into the final preseason game in Denver on Sunday.
Clayton Tune has better statistics and seemingly a better camp compared to Desmond Ridder, but both coach Jonathan Gannon and offensive coordinator Drew Petzing have emphasized nothing has been decided. The report from NFL.com Thursday morning that Tune will get the start against the Broncos with Ridder coming in later is information that shouldn't be parsed, Petzing said.
"I know people are going to make a big deal of who starts the game, but I don't see it that way," Petzing said. "Competition at every position is going to come down to final cuts. That's the reality of training camp. I expect to see those guys play at a high level regardless of who is in there first."
Murray has not played a preseason game, and for the first time in recent memory, the Cardinals aren't even carrying a fourth quarterback. That has left Tune and Ridder to take all the snaps, and through two games, the reps have been split down the middle – one half of work for each player in each game.
Tune has completed 23-of-34 passes for 242 yards; Ridder has thrown only 19 passes, completing 10 for 114 yards. Ridder has 38 yards rushing on six carries, Tune 24 on four. Tune has thrown a TD pass and run for a touchdown. Neither player has turned the ball over.
And in a perfect world, whoever is chosen never plays a down this season.
Seasons are rarely perfect.
"The reality of the NFL game is that guys get hurt," Petzing said. "It's unfortunate but it's real. The quarterback position had what, 60-plus starters last year? You want everyone on that roster, if they have a jersey, to be ready to go, ready to give us the best chance to win."
It was the inverse last season, given Murray started the season on the shelf, but Josh Dobbs was eventually named QB2 after a trade (and after injuries ended the plan of Colt McCoy in the lineup.) Over the last decade, the Cardinals have had to turn to their backup a few times. That doesn't include 2018, when Josh Rosen was technically the backup but who was going to replace Sam Bradford sooner rather than later.
| Year | Starter | Backups | Backup Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Murray* | Dobbs/Tune | 1-7/0-1 |
| 2022 | Murray | McCoy/Blough/McSorley | 1-2/0-2/0-1 |
| 2021 | Murray | McCoy | 2-1 |
| 2017 | Palmer | Stanton/Gabbert | 3-1/2-3 |
| 2016 | Palmer | Stanton | 0-1 |
| 2014 | Palmer | Stanton/Lindley | 5-3/0-2 |
There have been more than a few examples the last few seasons of playoff contenders having to use their backup QB to try and stay in the race, to mixed results.
| Year | Team | Starting QB | Top Backup | Backup Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Bengals | Burrow | Browning | 4-3 |
| 2023 | Chargers | Herbert | Stick | 0-4 |
| 2023 | Jets | Rodgers | Wilson | 4-7 |
| 2023 | Colts | Richardson | Minshew | 7-6 |
| 2022 | Cowboys | Prescott | Rush | 4-1 |
| 2022 | Ravens | Jackson | Huntley | 2-2 |
| 2022 | 49ers | Garoppolo | Lance/Purdy | 1-1/5-0 |
| 2022 | Rams | Stafford | Wolford/Mayfield | 1-2/1-4 |
| 2021 | Ravens | Jackson | Huntley | 1-3 |
| 2021 | Giants | Jones | Glennon | 0-4 |
Ridder has the experience, having started 17 games the past two years in Atlanta. Tune's lone start was as a rookie last season, a tough shutout loss in Cleveland. But Petzing said Tune is playing quicker because he doesn't have to process as much.
"Year One, which is true for a lot of rookies and certainly at the quarterback position, you can almost watch them think as they play," Petzing said. "Which is not ideal."
That extra year in the system helps Tune, but isn't necessarily hurting Ridder, Petzing added. The QB2 choice still has to be made.
"We are going to make a decision based on what they do while they are here," Petzing said.
