Gabbert Benched For Stanton

Gabbert Out As Starter

After five games as starting quarterback of the Arizona Cardinals, Blaine Gabbert is being sent back to the bench in favor of Drew Stanton. Stanton started the two games immediately following the injury to Carson Palmer. During that stretch Stanton threw for 474 yards while completing 51 percent of his passes with three touchdowns to one interception. Stanton last played on November 9th against Seattle in which he injured his knee. Gabbert by comparison has thrown for 1,086 yards while completing 56 percent of his passes with six touchdowns to six interceptions.

The switch from Gabbert to Stanton took many by surprise as head coach Bruce Arians at his post-game press conference that Gabbert would remain as starter. However, after reviewing the game film, Arians addressed the media on Monday and announced the change back to Stanton. The Cardinals have failed to score a touchdown in their last two games, and haven’t scored a touchdown in now 10 consecutive quarters. The streak started in their home loss to the Rams. On Sunday the Cardinals had six opportunities inside the Washington 20 yard line. Those drives ended in five field goals and a Gabbert interception. During Monday’s press conference Arians noted Gabbert’s inexperience in the offense. “It’s no fault of Blaine, but Drew knows all those scenarios and he’s healthy enough. It’s a matter of us getting all those touchdowns that are there, from experience, and trying to win this game.”

Not the First Rodeo For Either Quarterback

For Gabbert it is another failed chance at the starter position in the NFL. Stops in Jacksonville and San Francisco saw the former first round pick struggle with his accuracy and timing. Gabbert was then signed as a free agent by the Cardinals heading into the 2017 season and seen as a low risk signing with high upside. Stanton has been with the Cardinals since the 2014 season, a year after Arians’ arrival. The two men worked together in 2012 with the Colts where Arians led the team to a 9-3 record in interim duty.

Both Stanton and Gabbert are scheduled to be free agents at the end of this season. The final two games will provide a better sample size for Stanton to compare with Gabbert. However, something must be said for the final two games coming when the season is essentially over and no playoff spot is possible.

Injury Notes

The team announced that wide receiver Brittan Golden will be placed injured reserve. Golden suffered a broken arm on the final punt return of the day against Washington. The team also announced that Golden is already recovering from surgery on the broken arm. Other injuries from the game were not updated by the team on Monday.

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– Ryan Adverderada is the Managing Editor for Full Press Coverage Cardinals. Like and follow on Follow @ryanadverderada Follow @Cardinals and Facebook.