The Cardinals preferred rookie quarterback Josh Rosen not play at all this season. But after the debacle last week in Los Angeles, it became clear to almost everyone that wasn’t going to be possible.
After Sunday, it should be clear to one of the few holdouts: coach Steve Wilks.
He decided to replace starter Sam Bradford with Rosen in the fourth quarter after the Cardinals had gone six consecutive possessions without scoring, the last three of which ended on Bradford turnovers.
Rosen performed no miracles. The Cardinals lost 16-14, and Wilks followed the coaching manual to the letter in declining to name next week’s starter just minutes after this week’s game.