The Arizona Cardinals’ gamble on Gardner Minshew went wrong in his first game with the team, leaving the club short on quarterback depth. Giving rookie Carson Beck a chance was already a risk, and the situation became more difficult without a reliable veteran backup.
Arizona signed veteran Josh Johnson from the Cincinnati Bengals’ practice squad and brought in Joey Aguilar from the Jacksonville Jaguars’ practice squad. Both are behind Beck, but the Cardinals continued searching for veteran help in case their plan at quarterback did not work out.
According to the NFL transaction wire, Arizona worked out Cooper Rush and Trevor Siemian on Tuesday. The team also brought in wide receivers Phillip Dorsett, Malick Meiga and Eli Pancol. Of the five players, Dorsett was the only one signed; neither quarterback received a contract.
Rush joined the Atlanta Falcons in July and unexpectedly started Weeks 1 and 2 while Tua Tagovailoa was sidelined. He went 0–2, completing 56.4% of his passes for 229 yards, one touchdown and four interceptions. Atlanta released him on October 19 after Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. were healthy.
Siemian had a connection to Arizona’s coaching staff: Nathaniel Hackett, who was the New York Jets’ offensive coordinator in 2023, now holds the same role with the Cardinals. Siemian started three games for Hackett that season, completing 56.2% of his passes for 724 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions. His most recent NFL snaps came with the Jets in 2023.
Siemian and Rush also crossed paths in Atlanta. The Falcons signed Siemian in March 2026, released him on July 29 with a non-football injury designation and signed Rush that same day to take his place.
With neither quarterback signing, Arizona’s search for experienced depth behind Beck remains open. The Cardinals may continue looking for a veteran who can serve as a backup option.
