The Cardinals are already reeling after losing QB Kyler Murray to a torn ACL last week, and a lost season might've taken another turn for the worse on Sunday.
Veteran backup Colt McCoy, starting in place of Murray, took a hard hit on a head-first dive and was down on the field for several minutes.
Colt McCoy seems to be in pain on the field after the last offensive play.
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) December 18, 2022
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/Z1ZGUwGokc
While the Cardinals' season is headed nowhere with Arizona on the verge of elimination, Sunday's game against the similarly lifeless Broncos was viewed as winnable. Denver is starting its own backup quarterback, Brett Rypien, with Russell Wilson sidelined due to a concussion.
McCoy's injury leaves the Cardinals' offense in a dire situation and could have implications for their Christmas matchup with the Buccaneers in Week 16.
Here's what you need to know about McCoy's injury status.
Colt McCoy injury update
McCoy was ruled out for the remainder of the game with a concussion shortly after heading to the locker room.
#AZCardinals QB Colt McCoy has been ruled out with a concussion.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 18, 2022
The cart came out for McCoy, who was down on the field for a few minutes while his teammates surrounded him, but fortunately the veteran backup was able to walk off the field under his own power.
Another week, another scene like this.
— Josh Weinfuss (@joshweinfuss) December 18, 2022
The entire team came on the field after Colt McCoy and Kelvin Beachum went down. pic.twitter.com/g1r6WD7rrL
The diagnosis of a concussion leaves McCoy's status very much up in the air for the Cardinals' Christmas night matchup against the Buccaneers. McCoy will have to clear the league's protocols in order to return.
Ravens QB Tyler Huntley started on Saturday after suffering a concussion six days earlier, so it's possible that McCoy is ready to go against Tampa.
The Broncos sat Russell Wilson out this week despite him clearing concussion protocols, so it will be worth watching whether the Cardinals decide it isn't worth putting McCoy on the field just a week after a concussion.
Who is the Cardinals' backup QB?
Trace McSorley entered the game in place of McCoy against the Broncos.
McCoy, of course, was the Cardinals' backup until Murray's injury, so McSorley has moved from No. 3 on the depth chart to the only healthy option in just a week.
MORE: Cardinals QB depth chart after Kyler Murray's injury
McSorley, drafted in the sixth-round by the Ravens out of Penn State in 2019, has never started an NFL game. He's thrown 14 passes this season in mop-up duty and threw 10 passes during his time in Baltimore.
If McCoy is forced to miss Week 16, McSorley is at least temporarily in line to make the start in prime-time.
Should McSorley become injured, Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury has indicated RB Corey Clement will be the emergency QB.
