What happened: Arizona Cardinals quarterback Gardner Minshew is feared to have suffered a torn UCL in his throwing arm and could miss the remainder of the season. Minshew sustained the elbow injury before halftime in Sunday's 17-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks and played through the second half before undergoing tests. Rookie Carson Beck is in line to step into the starting role if Minshew faces an extended rehabilitation period.

Why it matters: A season-ending injury forces Arizona to pivot to Beck, selected in the third round with the 65th overall pick out of Miami. The Cardinals sit at 3-6 and hold the 14th seed in the NFC, leaving minimal margin for error over the final eight games. Turning to Beck accelerates the franchise's timeline to evaluate the rookie as their potential long-term option under center.

What to watch: Minshew will undergo additional tests to determine the full severity of the ligament tear and whether surgery is required. Arizona will begin preparing Beck to take first-team reps ahead of Week 10.