TEMPE, Ariz. — The Arizona Cardinals went back to work Thursday amid media reports that coach Bruce Arians has changed his mind and decided to start Ryan Lindley at quarterback Sunday in the regular-season finale at San Francisco.
Arians does not talk to reporters Thursday and offensive coordinator Harold Goodwin was not forthcoming about the reported quarterback switch.
“I guess we’ll see on Sunday,” Goodwin said.
Arians had said that rookie Logan Thomas would get his first NFL start against the 49ers but apparently didn’t like what he saw in Wednesday’s practice.
Lindley was working with the No. 1 unit in the brief portion of Thursday’s practice that was open to reporters.
Azcentral.com, which includes The Arizona Republic, first reported the quarterback switch.
Lindley started last week against Seattle and had a tough day in the Cardinals’ 35-6 loss. He is filling in for Drew Stanton, who took over when Carson Palmer went down with a season-ending knee injury.
Stanton sprained his right knee two games ago in St. Louis and the Cardinals remain hopeful he will be able to play in the playoffs.
Thomas, a fourth-round draft pick out of Virginia Tech with a strong arm but erratic accuracy, would have been the fourth starting quarterback for the Cardinals, who at 11-3 are tied with the Seahawks for first in the NFC West but lose the tiebreaker by virtue of two losses to the Seahawks.
Arizona still has a chance to win the NFC West if the Cardinals beat the 49ers and St. Louis upsets the Seahawks in Seattle.
A more probable scenario has Arizona finishing with the No. 5 seed in the NFC and a first-round game at either Carolina or Atlanta.
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