Cardinals Quarterback Battle: Ryan Lindley Gets Start in Final Preseason Game

It looks like the battle for the Cardinals' starting quarterback position will come down to practice.

In a press conference today, Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt announced that third-string Ryan Lindley will get the start in the team's fifth and final preseason game, which is Thursday against the Denver Broncos. However, Whiz emphasized the point that the rookie out of San Diego State will not be the starter in the team's regular season opener.

The move contrasts greatly with their opponents in that opening game, the Seattle Seahawks. Seattle is one of the only other teams whose quarterback situation is murky, but they announced today that candidate Russel Wilson will start Thursday against the Oakland Raiders.

For the Cards, the move to sit both Kevin Kolb and John Skelton means that the quarterback competition has just a few more practices left in it.

The two are hard to separate in terms of their statistical performances through the first four games as Kolb went 22 for 37 for 203 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions while Skelton went 14 for 25 for 131 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.

One potential difference between the two is Kolb's six sacks taken to Skelton's two; however, this may speak more to the state of the offensive line in front of Kolb in that third game against Oakland.

Hence, the decision to sit both for the final game is quite curious.

Does Whisenhunt have his mind made up already? If so, why doesn't the other one start?

Is he just scared of either getting injured in the final preseason game?

Or is he actually planning a platoon similar to the one he used in 2007 with Matt Leinart and Kurt Warner?

No matter what, the next week and a half will be interesting in the build-up to Arizona's regular season opener.

Who do you think should start?

Voice your opinion in the comments below.

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