The Arizona Cardinals have had a rough stretch of injuries as of late. The silver lining to these injuries, particularly on offense, is that they clear the path for rookies like Carson Beck and Reggie Virgil for the remainder of the season. These two had a clear connection established in the lone preseason game they shared together, the 33-30 loss to the Carolina Panthers in the Hall of Fame Game.
Carson Beck and Reggie Virgil look to revisit preseason connection
Beck kept up in the shootout, completing 15-of-19 passes for 188 yards and 1 touchdown. Virgil was his preferred pass-catcher by total targets, catching five of six for 66 yards. It was Jalen Brooks who was that game's leading receiver with three receptions for 99 yards, but he's unfortunately no longer an option after suffering a season-ending wrist injury.
Gardner Minshew II could be out for the season with a torn UCL. If that's confirmed to be the case, Arizona will turn to Beck. Not only would Beck be starting without Brooks, but also Michael Wilson and Kendrick Bourne, all of whom are now out for the season.
GM Monti Ossenfort should consider adding another receiver or two to this group. Even though it's already shaping up to be another lost season, it's important to establish a culture under Mike LaFleur's first season.
The Cardinals rookie class showed a ton of promise to help catalyze that LaFleur era. Unfortunately, they'll have to largely wait to see that materialize. First-round pick Jeremiyah Love remains sidelined with a high ankle sprain. Second-round guard Chase Bisontis was looking like someone who should've gone in the first round before suffering a torn left MCL in preseason.
The list unfortunately goes on, with Beck and Virgil now giving the Cardinals at least a chance to get this rookie class some momentum heading into next season.
Beck and Virgil could save Cardinals’ injured rookie class
Virgil was Arizona's fifth-round pick out of Texas Tech. He's been quiet up to this point, with just three receptions for 54 total yards in five games. Barring a roster move that moves him down the depth chart, expect that production to increase for the remainder of the season, starting with Arizona's upcoming matchup against the Los Angeles Rams.
This season is quickly slipping away as the Cardinals limp into difficult matchups against the Rams and Kansas City Chiefs. It's less-than-ideal circumstances for Beck and Virgil, especially since they're being asked far too much.
But you could also see it as starting opportunities for both Beck and Virgil that won't be guaranteed after this season. Hopefully they both ace their midseason audition, though realistically fans should temper expectations given the injuries around them and the relatively low draft investments from the Cardinals.
Virgil has shot to emerge as Cardinals' WR1 with Beck
Virgil in particular won't get this good of an opportunity again, going from a fifth-round pick to having the chance to emerge as a WR1 in just his rookie season. That connection he showed with Beck in the preseason should help those chances.
There's something to be said about how things managed to get this badly in Arizona that they're still trying to win games with Beck and Virgil leading the offense (ok maybe Trey McBride) too, but we're trying to positivity max this rebuild. These are dire times, and our loyalty gets tested as Cardinals fans. Let's at least try to build something positive to carry into this new LaFleur era. This rookie class was off to a strong start, but injuries largely derailed that momentum. Now it's up to Beck and Virgil to give this team some semblance of hope going forward once this team inevitably falls out of the playoff equation.
It was only one preseason game, but there's at least some tangible connection we can look forward to. Virgil hasn't stood out yet for Arizona, but these injuries to both the quarterback and receiver room could be just the thing he needs to improve that trajectory in the second half of the season.
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