TEMPE, Ariz. — In a late-week twist, Arizona Cardinals quarterback David Blough will begin on Sunday towards the Atlanta Falcons rather than Colt McCoy, coach Kliff Kingsbury mentioned Friday.
The choice to sit down McCoy was achieved out of an “abundance of warning” after McCoy skilled further concussion signs following Thursday’s observe.
Blough and the Las Vegas Raiders‘ Jarrett Stidham will grow to be the 63rd and sixty fourth quarterbacks to have began an NFL recreation this season, tying a non-strike document set in 2007. The one different NFL season with extra beginning quarterbacks was the 1987 strike yr, when there have been 87 completely different starters.
Solely 11 of the NFL’s 32 groups have had one beginning quarterback this season. On the other finish of the spectrum, the Cardinals on Sunday will tie the Los Angeles Rams because the groups with probably the most beginning QBs this season with 4.
Blough, who was signed Dec. 14, discovered Friday morning that he would get the ball in Atlanta over Trace McSorley, who began Sunday night time’s loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Kingsbury mentioned it could give him an opportunity to guage Blough earlier than selecting between McSorley and Blough for the season finale towards the San Francisco 49ers.
Blough mentioned listening to that he was going to begin was “possibly stunning.” He shall be making his first begin since 2019, when he went 0-5 with the Detroit Lions, and he hasn’t thrown a cross in a recreation since 2020.
“You by no means know what number of alternatives you get on this league, and to have the ability to be standing right here after getting right here a couple of weeks in the past, I am excited to go lower it unfastened and provides these guys every thing I bought,” Blough mentioned.
When requested how McSorley took the information, Kingsbury mentioned, “He is a competitor.”
Blough mentioned each co-pass-game coordinator and quarterbacks coach Cam Turner and Kingsbury have been working with him to show him the offense and he feels “comfy” going into Sunday’s recreation.
“He is achieved a pleasant job selecting up this week,” Kingsbury mentioned. “So, we’ll be sure that we tailor the script to stuff he feels good about and, um, let him go attempt to play quick and execute at a excessive stage.”
Blough, who’s from Carrollton, Texas, mentioned he grew up watching Texas Tech run the Air Raid offense however hasn’t had an opportunity to play in it.
“As a backup on this league, it’s a must to put together your self as when you’re gonna play and then you definately go and do your job,” Blough mentioned. “Each cease alongside the way in which, I believe considerably of a possibility like this has come alongside and also you gotta show that you just’re prepared and might deal with these conditions.”
Blough, nevertheless, may be with out one of many Cardinals’ prime targets on Sunday. Broad receiver DeAndre Hopkins left observe earlier than the open portion was over with what Kingsbury referred to as a “little little bit of a knee problem.”
Arizona is predicted to decide Saturday on whether or not Hopkins will play towards the Falcons.
