Trace McSorley News

After coming in relief for a concussed McCoy in the Week 15 loss to the Broncos, McSorley drew his first career start Week 16 against the Buccaneers. He proved to be mistake-prone in the Cardinals' 19-16 overtime loss, committing three turnovers (one interception, two lost fumbles) while completing just 24 of 45 passes for 4.8 yards per attempt. Even though the 27-year-old McSorley has more theoretical upside of the two quarterbacks at this stage of his career and the 4-11 Cardinals have little on the line in the final two games, Kingsbury will turn the offense back over to the more battle-tested McCoy as Arizona looks to end the season on a high note.

McSorley's first NFL start wasn't disastrous by any stretch, but ball security was an issue for the fourth-year pro. McSorley's first lost fumble came midway through the first quarter at the Buccaneers' 30-yard line as a result of a sack, proving costly to the Cardinals even though it didn't lead to any Tampa Bay points. The second was even more consequential, as McSorley was charged with a turnover on an attempted pitch to Keaontay Ingram that was recovered by the Bucs' William Gholston and led to a game-tying field goal. McSorley may be one and done as a starter, as Colt McCoy should have a good chance of clearing concussion protocol in time for a Week 17 road matchup against the Falcons.

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Trace McSorley will start Week 16 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday night. Colt McCoy has already been ruled out with a concussion, so McSorley will make his first NFL start. The 2019 sixth-round pick completed 7 of 15 passes for 95 yards and 2 interceptions in relief of McCoy last week, and he has just 166 scoreless yards with 3 picks on 29 attempts for the entire season. It's a downgrade for the Cardinals' pass-catchers, but McSorley does offer some individual rushing potential, as he had 30 rushing touchdowns in three seasons as a starter at Penn State. The Buccaneers have the No. 7 pass defense and No. 7 overall defense in numberFire's adjusted team ranks. They are allowing 17.1 FanDuel points per game to opposing quarterbacks.

Kliff Kingsbury made the announcement Wednesday after ruling out Colt McCoy, who suffered a concussion during Sunday's 24-15 loss to Denver. McSorley completed seven of 15 passes for 95 yards and two interceptions in relief, and with that fresh in mind it's possible he could be benched for recently signed David Blough if he struggles again Sunday night. McSorley had only one carry for eight yards last week, but he does offer potential for rushing stats given that he ran a 4.57 40 coming out of Penn State in 2019 -- where he had 30 rushing TDs in three seasons as a starter -- and then spent a couple years in Baltimore backing up Lamar Jackson.

McSorley entered the game three plays into the second half after Colt McCoy was forced to the sidelines due to a head injury. He managed a few long completions of 29 and 18 yards but still managed only 6.3 yards per attempt. To make matters worse, McSorley also threw two interceptions, the latter of which led directly to Denver's game-clinching touchdown. If McCoy can't clear concussion protocol in time for a Week 16 matchup against the Buccaneers, McSorley will likely be called upon to start.

McSorley popped up with an illness during Arizona's final practice Week 12, leaving him inactive against the Chargers. However, he appears to have gotten over this ailment during the Cardinals' bye Week 13. As a result, McSorley should reprise his role as the team's third-string quarterback against New England on Monday Night Football.