GLENDALE, Ariz. — Quarterback Jacoby Brissett has reached a reworked one-year agreement with the Arizona Cardinals, and first-year head coach Mike LaFleur says the 33-year-old veteran is expected to be under center when the regular season kicks off.
Brissett had expressed dissatisfaction with his original contract, which carried only $1.5 million in guaranteed money for the coming season. The newly restructured deal is reportedly valued at $15.5 million.
LaFleur downplayed any disruption the situation may have caused within the organization. “It hasn’t been a distraction by any means — I think we’ve got some very mature and professional players,” he said. “But it’s just one more thing that we don’t have to talk about.”
Brissett stepped into the starting role for Arizona’s final 12 games of last season after Kyler Murray went down with a season-ending foot injury. The veteran quarterback put up solid individual numbers — 3,366 passing yards, 23 touchdowns, and eight interceptions — though the team managed just a 1-11 record during that stretch.
LaFleur said the contract was finalized before Sunday’s practice session and that Brissett would begin taking reps with the first-team offense shortly. The Cardinals’ other quarterback options include veteran Gardner Minshew and rookie Carson Beck.
Brissett has built strong relationships inside the Arizona locker room. Eight-time Pro Bowl safety Budda Baker was among the teammates who publicly called for the team to get a new deal done for the quarterback.
LaFleur expressed confidence that the missed practice time would not set Brissett back significantly. “He’s got a level head about himself,” LaFleur said. “He’s been in a lot of different systems and heard a lot of different things and seen a lot of different things. He’s had the ups and downs with teams. He’s in a good spot and I’m excited to really start working with him.”
Arizona is scheduled to open its preseason on August 6 against the Carolina Panthers in the Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio.
