Gardner Minshew II will make his first start for the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday night, taking the field against the Dallas Cowboys in the team's preseason home opener at State Farm Stadium while starter Jacoby Brissett sits out the contest entirely. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. in Glendale, marking Arizona's first home matchup with Dallas in three years and coming as the Cardinals try to find their footing under new head coach Mike LaFleur following a rough 3-14 season in 2025.
According to Arizona's Family, Minshew is expected to play roughly the first half before giving way to backups, a plan that reflects his heavy workload during OTAs and training camp while Brissett dealt with offseason contract matters, as Arizona Sports reported. Rookie quarterback Carson Beck, Arizona's third-round pick, is unlikely to play as well, sidelined for a second straight preseason game with rib discomfort he suffered during the Hall of Fame Game, per the same report.
Minshew's audition comes at a pivotal moment for a Cardinals team trying to reset after a lost 2025 campaign. LaFleur, hired in February on a five-year deal after three seasons coordinating a Los Angeles Rams offense that led the NFL in scoring and yardage, is making his debut as an NFL head coach this season. He has said the Cardinals offense will share foundational elements with the Rams, San Francisco 49ers and Green Bay Packers schemes, according to the team's report.
A Backfield Already Thinned by Injuries
Arizona's investment in its backfield took center stage this offseason when the club selected Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love with the third overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, signing him to a fully guaranteed four-year, $53.02 million deal that set a record for guaranteed money given to an NFL running back, as Heavy Sports detailed. Love has since hurt his ankle during Arizona's preseason win over the Las Vegas Raiders, a 27-14 victory, and his status adds to a running back room already dealing with attrition.
James Conner is recovering from a foot injury that caused him to miss most of last season, while Trey Benson is dealing with a left knee injury of his own, per the Arizona's Family report. Rookie guard Chase Bisontis, who tore the MCL in his left knee against the Raiders, has been placed on injured reserve and will require surgery, ending his rookie season. Kaleb Proctor is also done for the year after sustaining a knee injury during offseason workouts. With Conner, Benson and Love all banged up, Arizona will lean on Tyler Allgeier and Bam Knight alongside its depleted top options.
History Between Two Old Division Rivals
Saturday's game also revives a rivalry with roots stretching back decades. The Cardinals and Cowboys spent 32 seasons together in the NFC East before the NFL's 2002 realignment split them into separate divisions, according to Arizona Sports. Dallas still leads the all-time series 56-35-1, but Arizona has won eight of the last nine meetings dating back to 2008, including a 27-17 win in Dallas this past November that extended the Cardinals' win streak over the Cowboys to four straight games, per StatMuse.
Getting In and Out of State Farm Stadium
Fans heading to Glendale should know that all game tickets and parking are digital-only this season, per the Arizona's Family report. Sportsman's Park carparks open at 3 p.m. Saturday, the Great Lawn opens the same time for pregame tailgating only, and club gates at State Farm Stadium open at 4 p.m., with the main entrance gates following at 5:30 p.m. The outlet recommends fans arrive within the first two hours after carparks open to beat the rush.
The stadium's clear bag policy remains in effect, allowing one clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bag no larger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches, a one-gallon plastic freezer bag, or a small clutch no bigger than 4.5 by 6.5 inches. Clear backpacks, fanny packs and cinch bags are also permitted within those dimensions, but oversized bags must be left in a vehicle or checked at a mobile bag station for $20 per bag. Fans looking to leave should exit through BetMGM Gate 1 or Bud Light Gate 3, then walk south along the Black Lot pathway to reach the rideshare pickup zone on Cardinals Way between 95th and 91st avenues.
New Concessions and Merchandise for the Home Opener
Saturday's game also brings a rotating slate of stadium food exclusive to the matchup, including a specialty BBQ brisket burger featuring a beef patty, smoked brisket, pickles, jalapeño cowboy candy, barbecue sauce and a brioche bun, available only at this game according to the Arizona's Family report. Other menu items include a Walkin' Taco with Doritos Nacho Cheese chips or Fritos, nacho cheese sauce, taco meat and elote street corn topped with cotija cheese, tajin, cilantro and lime; a Copper State Cheesesteak with shaved ribeye, grilled onions, poblano chilies, roasted poblano queso and Indian frybread; and a Big Red Turkey Wrap with smoked turkey breast, goat cheese spread, superfood slaw and superfood crunch.
The Cardinals Team Shop, with cashless satellite locations scattered throughout the stadium at sections including 101, 104, 112, 120, 133 and 232, is debuting new kids and women's merchandise collections along with updated rivalries gear and Larry Fitzgerald-themed items for the home opener.
Girls Flag Football Gets the Statewide Spotlight
Beyond Saturday's game, Arizona's Family is set to broadcast eight Cardinals Girls High School Flag Football games this fall, part of the network's Cardinals Girls High School Flag Football Game of the Week returning for its third consecutive season. Games kick off at 6 p.m. on Arizona's Family Sports and the AZFS app, available on Cox Channel 13, DirecTV Channel 32 and Dish Network Channel 44, with replays airing Fridays and Saturdays throughout the season.
The broadcast slate reflects the sport's rapid rise statewide since the Arizona Interscholastic Association sanctioned girls flag football as a varsity sport in fall 2023, growing from 54 high school teams in its first year to more than 130 by 2025, according to AZPreps365. This season's schedule includes Highland facing No. 5-ranked Campo Verde in the season opener on September 15 in Gilbert, with Highland itself ranked No. 4. Other matchups include Chaparral versus Arizona College Preparatory on October 7, Sandra Day O'Connor versus Xavier on September 29, Casteel versus Millennium on September 23, Marana versus Corona del Sol on October 20, Red Mountain versus Salpointe on October 13, Chandler versus Hamilton on October 26, and Liberty versus Mountain Ridge on November 3.
Arizona's preseason slate continues after Saturday's game, with the Cardinals set to finish their exhibition schedule against the Packers in Green Bay on September 28. For now, all eyes in Glendale are on how Minshew handles his first extended look under center, and whether Arizona's thinned-out running back room can hold up as the regular season approaches.
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