ROSEN’S TIME?
Rookie QB named starter for Cards
His Monday news conference in Tempe started out like any other. Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks broke down the game, looking at the big picture in all three phases. He rehashed the fast start and the eventual demise. He talked about the team he envisioned. He contrasted that with the execution he saw.
Seventeen sentences and 90 seconds into his opening statement, without changing the inflection in his voice, Wilks dropped some other news: Oh, by the way, rookie quarterback Josh Rosen will now start on Sunday.
“Looking at the situation and evaluating the film, evaluating the quarterback position, I’ve decided that Josh Ro-
sen will be our starter going forward,” Wilks said.
Four games in, Rosen will start over nine-year veteran Sam Bradford. Through three games, Bradford has thrown for 400 yards, with two touchdowns and four interceptions.
Wilks made the decision Monday morning, before telling both quarterbacks and the rest of the team. Wilks also said this is not just a one-game trial for Rosen.
“Before with Sam, I said Sam was our starter, and it was his job to lose,” Wilks said. “And I’m saying the exact same thing about Josh Rosen. Josh is our starter, and it’s his job to lose.”
While Rosen was not available Monday, he weighed in on Instagram.
“Since day 1, Sam has had my back and helped me become the best quarterback I could be,” he said in the caption of a picture showing him and Bradford side by side.
“He and Mike Glennon couldn’t have been more supportive at a time that I thought might be a bit tense or awkward today. I couldn’t be more thrilled to be in a QB room with two of the most selfless people I’ve ever been around as I start my career as a quarterback in the NFL.”
Sunday will be his first NFL start, but Rosen did see the field this past weekend.
He came in against the Bears with 4:31 left in the game, and the Cardinals trailing by two.
His storybook comeback fell short. He completed four of his seven passes for 36 yards in his NFL debut.
He also had a pass intercepted and was sacked on the final play of the game.
Sam Bradford threw two first-quarter touchdowns but was pulled from the game after going 13-for-19 for 157 yards, with his past three drives ending in turnovers, with two interceptions and a fumble.
The fumble forced by linebacker Khalil Mack with 11:33 left in the game would be Bradford’s last play. A long ensuing drive by the Bears masked the fact that Wilks had already made up his mind.
“When you look at the last possession when we got that fumble, it was about 11 (minutes) and change left on the clock. At that particular time, I made the decision,” Wilks said on the in-game switch.
“They went on a seven-minute drive right there, so it looked like Josh was thrown in at the end, but he wasn’t. He can handle those types of situations. I think he handled it well when he went in. Commanded the huddle, did a great job moving the ball.”
There was only one throw of Rosen’s that Wilks didn’t like on Sunday. In the end, Wilks said his decision came partially from seeing Bradford’s lapses, but also seeing Rosen’s capability.
“It’s a little of both,” Wilks said. “We just didn’t have a lot of production at that position in the pass. Whether it was all on Sam, or whether it was collectively with the offensive line, the receivers, running backs, we all had a hand in it. But, I wanted to make a change, and I think Josh is going to bring something to the table.”
Rosen’s mobility stands out in particular. He rushed once on Sunday, picking up 12 yards and a first down as he scrambled right. Wilks heralded his athleticism among other skills.
“I just think just his mobility, being able to buy time in the pocket,” Wilks said. “I think he’s accurate. I think he has a strong arm. I think he can put the ball where it needs to be. Inexperienced? Yes. He’s a rookie. So, we’re going to have to do a great job with the communication, making sure that the offensive line and he are on one accord from a standpoint of protections.”
In two preseason games, Rosen completed 16 of 29 passes for 148 yards with one touchdown.
A three-year starter at UCLA, he threw for 9,340 yards, 59 touchdowns and 26 interceptions in his time as a Bruin.
His first start at the next level will come against a divisional rival. The Cardinals (0-3) host the Seattle Seahawks (1-2) on Sunday. Arizona has not had a worse start to a season since moving to the Valley in 1988.