'It's my time': Cards QB Thomas ready to trade acting for starting
TEMPE, Ariz. -- When the Cardinals played the 49ers in Week 3, Logan Thomas served as the scout team quarterback. His challenge was to look as much like San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick as possible.
But the emulation had its limits.
"I didn't have any tattoos or anything like that," he said. "I didn't have to paint on any of those. (I was) just trying to give them the best look possible; just move the pocket and do what he does a little bit."
Instead of emulating Kaepernick this week before the season finale at Levi's Stadium, Thomas is preparing to face Kaepernick in what would be the rookie's first NFL start. It's difficult to say what Thomas' exact role in the game will be since coach Bruce Arians has been all over the map when asked that question this week. But we can say with some certainty that Thomas should see time. We think.
At his Monday press conference, Arians said he was leaning in that direction. On local radio a few minutes later, Arians said Thomas would definitely start. On SiriusXM Radio on Tuesday, Arians said Thomas would play at least a half, and after Wednesday's practice, Arians said there was no time limit on how much Thomas would play.
Confused? You're not alone.
At any rate, Thomas began preparations for a big moment in his career at Wednesday's practice.
"He had a shaky start," said Arians, who chalked it up to nerves. "He settled down and had a pretty good second half of practice."
Thomas saw action in the team's Week 5 loss at Denver when starter Carson Palmer was out with a shoulder nerve injury and Drew Stanton suffered a concussion during the game. But he only threw eight passes in that game and one last week against Seattle. His one completion against the Broncos went for an 81-yard touchdown to Andre Ellington, with Ellington getting most of those yards after the catch.
"Going and doing it is completely different than just seeing it so it's going to be great," said Thomas, who admitted he is still absorbing the hands-on aspects of the offense. "It's just the offense as a whole, with the hots and sights, and then with the reads. But the guys around me have done a great job of making me comfortable."
Arians has made it plain that he is playing to win, and he will have a quick hook for Thomas if things don't go the way he wants them to go. Thomas said that approach is unique to him, but he appreciates Arians being honest about it, adding that it does not add pressure.
"If I prepare the right way, play the way I think I can play and the way I plan to play, then it shouldn't be a problem," he said.
Arians had a short list of elements he'd like to see in Thomas' game on Sunday.
"Control of the offense, knowing why he's throwing the ball where it's going and doing it accurately," Arians said. "The big thing is getting to the right guy through his progression. That was part of the shakiness of the beginning of this practice, and then he got better and better."
With so little on the line in this game -- if Seattle beats St. Louis the Cardinals are all but locked into the NFC's No. 5 seed -- Sunday's game provides a learning environment for Thomas without much pressure. But he isn't looking at it that way.
When asked if he did something unusual -- a special dinner or partying with friends -- to celebrate his first start, Thomas shook his head, insisting he was business-like in his approach to the week.
"Another day at the office," he said. "It's my time."
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