Blaine Gabbert to start at quarterback for Cardinals vs. Texans

The last time the Cardinals played a game, Blaine Gabbert dressed up like the Tooth Fairy, wings and all.

On Sunday, he’ll suit up as the Cardinals’ starting quarterback when they play in Houston against the Texans.

“It’s been there, yeah,” coach Bruce Arians said of his confidence level in Gabbert, who lost last week’s quarterback bucket toss challenge and therefore had to wear the funny costume last Thursday night during pregame warmups. “I’ve always kind of seen him as a starter in waiting.”

Gabbert will become the team’s third different starting quarterback this season. He replaces Drew Stanton, who is nursing a sprained right knee suffered in Thursday’s loss to the Seahawks. Though Stanton has made progress all week with the injury, he is listed as questionable for Sunday and Arians said it will be a game-time decision if Stanton will dress as the backup.

If he can’t go, newly re-acquired Matt Barkley will be the backup to Gabbert. The Cardinals (4-5) will have only two active quarterbacks for the game, Arians said.

Knowing that a strong performance against the Texans (3-6) could help Gabbert’s chances at ultimately becoming the Cardinals’ starter next season and beyond, the presumption is that Arians will have to stress the importance to Gabbert of staying within himself and not trying to do too much.

Arians doesn’t see it that way.

“No, this isn’t a rookie guy,” he said. “This is big opportunity for him, but he’s been around the block a few times.”

Gabbert, 28, had made 40 career NFL starts and is 9-31 in those games. The last time he threw a pass in a regular-season game was Dec. 4 against the Bears. In his career, spanning Jacksonville to San Francisco, he has thrown one more touchdown (38) than interceptions (37).

Cardinals players have rallied around Gabbert all week, saying they believe in his abilities to help them turn the corner and salvage this season. He’s been with the team since May upon signing a one-year contract.

“Blaine has been here, he had a whole offseason and training camp, and he got reps periodically throughout practice throughout the course of the year,” wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald said. “I think he’s comfortable. I think we are comfortable with him. Blaine’s solid. He’ll be ready to roll.”

Safety Antoine Bethea, who spent the past three seasons with Gabbert in San Francisco, agrees.

“I’m a big fan of Blaine’s,” Bethea said. “He makes all the throws and he’s mobile, and as a defender that’s one thing that you need to see – a quarterback that can move around back there. I’m anxious to see how he performs. I texted him earlier this week saying, ‘You’re getting this shot, man. Do something with it.’ So I’m awfully happy for him.”

Most people in and around the team are calling it an audition for Gabbert, a chance to prove he can at least be the torch carrier or stop gap until the Cardinals find their next quarterback of the future. Carson Palmer, on injured reserve following surgery to repair a broken left arm, is under contract for the 2018 season but there are no guarantees he will decide to return.

Earlier this week, Gabbert said he is trying not to look too far ahead.

“I don’t really think about that,” he said. “You’re so close-minded in the season. It’s such a one-week-at-a-time mentality – really one day, one meeting at a time if you break it down like that – so we’re focused on each and every day throughout the week, and getting better.”

Cardinals running back Adrian Peterson on Friday said he saw “good things” out of Gabbert in practice this week and noted his agility and accuracy. Gabbert can throw the ball deep for plenty of distance, but he doesn’t have the same accuracy as Palmer.

“I don’t know if there’s anybody that compares to Carson that I’ve ever seen,” Arians said, speaking specifically about Palmer’s deep-pass accuracy. “Drew and he both throw a flatter, harder deep ball. I think they can work on it. Blaine has long range, but again, accuracy long is a different thing.”

Injury report

The Cardinals have only ruled one player out of Sunday’s game – defensive tackle Corey Peters (high ankle sprain). In addition to Stanton, three others are listed as questionable. They are receiver John Brown (back), center A.Q. Shipley (shoulder) and right tackle John Wetzel (back).

If Shipley and Wetzel aren’t able to go, it likely will be Evan Boehm and Will Holden, respectively, who would replace them in the lineup.

Three players will miss the game for Houston – receiver Will Fuller (ribs), linebacker Dylan Cole (hamstring) and tackle Julien Davenport (shoulder). Four players are listed as questionable. They are running back Alfred Blue (hamstring), defensive end Joel Heath (knee), center Greg Mancz (knee/chest) and receiver Chris Thompson (knee).

Pay up

Cardinals linebacker Karlos Dansby has been fined $18,231 for his hit to the chin of Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson last Thursday. Seattle’s Sheldon Richardson, meanwhile, was also fined $18,231 for his first-quarter hit on Stanton that injured the quarterback’s knee.

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Reach McManaman at [email protected] Follow him on Twitter @azbobbymac and listen to him live every Wednesday night between 7-9 on Fox Sports 910-AM on The Freaks with Kenny and Crash.