Jacoby Brissett Is AWOL And Our Division Rival Might Be Collapsing Already

Alright 12s, you won't believe what's going down in the desert. While our Hawks are out there grinding, making moves under Mike Macdonald and getting Sam Darnold ready, our NFC West rivals, the Arizona Cardinals, are already looking like a full-on dumpster fire. Jacoby Brissett, the quarterback they brought in, is apparently playing a "dangerous game." He's a no-show for the start of Organized Team Activities. Yeah, you read that right. OTAs! It’s May 2026, and their big QB is skipping out because of contract negotiations. This isn't just a ripple, it's a massive wave, and it's hitting them hard and early.

Brissett's Holdout And The QB Carousel

The drama around Brissett's absence is already swirling, with Arizona Sports 98.7 reporting that he "stands on business with 10 toes down," proving it with those contract talks. But let's be real, showing up is also part of "standing on business" when you're a starting NFL quarterback. This whole situation immediately throws the spotlight onto rookie Carson Beck. Is Beck the franchise quarterback? Arizona is already asking if they should just follow Dallas' playbook with Dak Prescott and start Beck immediately. Questions are flying about when we'll even see him debut. This kind of internal turmoil before the season even truly begins? Classic NFC West chaos, but this early, it's gotta be a bad sign for the Cardinals.

A Gauntlet Of A Schedule And Whispers Of Change

As if a missing quarterback wasn't enough, the Cardinals' 2026 NFL schedule just dropped, and it's being called an "absolute gauntlet." Some folks are even calling it one of the "toughest in NFL history." That's a brutal start for any team, let alone one with QB drama. New head coach Mike LaFleur has his work cut out for him, but at least he's got Michael Wilson "raving" about him. Tight ends Trey McBride and Elijah Higgins, along with offensive lineman Paris Johnson Jr., have been out there answering questions about LaFleur and, yep, Brissett's absence. McBride even talked about what he saw from Jeremiyah Love. It sounds like a lot of their guys are trying to put on a brave face, but a tough schedule with no starting QB in sight? That's a recipe for a long season in Glendale.

Meanwhile, On The Diamond...

While the NFL drama unfolds, down on the diamond, the Arizona Diamondbacks managed a series-clinching win over the Rockies, with their offense shining and the bullpen holding on. They've crossed the quarter mark of the 2026 season with "mixed bag results," and their starting rotation is already getting graded. I mean, good for them, I guess? We're focused on our Mariners, watching Cal Raleigh launch dingers and Julio Rodriguez light up T-Mobile Park. Let's keep our eyes peeled, Hawks fans, because this division just got a whole lot more interesting for all the wrong reasons in Arizona.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.