Cardinals' Bradford to start, coach says, but Rosen impressing

Arizona Cardinals coach Steve Wilks has been adamant that veteran Sam Bradford will be his starter entering the 2018 season.

That was Wilks' plan even after the Cardinals traded up to take rookie quarterback Josh Rosen with the No. 10 pick in the NFL Draft.

Still, while Wilks remains firmly in the corner of Bradford, who was signed to a one-year, $20 million contract in March, he admits that Rosen has made quite an impression on him.

During this week's team actitivites, asked if the possibility of Rosen opening the season as the starter was a long shot, Wilks told the team's official website: "No, it's not."

Bradford has a lengthy injury history was appeared in just two games with the Minnesota Vikings in 2017. If he can stay on the field, the former Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 overall pick in 2010 is expected to be under center in Week 1.

"I talked about it from day one -- the best 11 are going to play," said Wilks. "Sam is the starter, and when he's healthy, he's great. But everybody is competing to be out there on the field. Competition is a great thing. It makes us all better."

While the Cardinals manage Bradford's workload, Rosen has received plenty of repetitions during offseason workouts and has earned praise from Wilks, flashing the skills that prompted Arizona to move up five spots in the draft to take him.

Rosen passed for 3,754 yards and 26 touchdowns with 10 interceptions in 2017 at UCLA. He posted career numbers of 9,301 yards passing with 59 touchdowns and 26 interceptions in 30 games.

"This guy is extremely smart," Wilks said. "I mean, his ability to see certain things from the defense, and pick it up quickly, and execute. ... I don't want to say this, but he has the mindset of a vet. The way he sees the game.

"He's not playing like a vet. Make sure you guys understand that. He's still a rookie, OK? But he sees things, like I said before, through a different lens. And he picks it up quickly."