TEMPE, Ariz. – Logan Thomas doesn’t let much influence his confidence.
He tries to stay the same, whether it's a 1-for-8 start in his NFL debut against Denver last season or while driving the Cardinals for a game-winning touchdown on Sunday.
“Fairly middling,” Thomas described his confidence level heading into Thursday night’s preseason finale, stealing a phrase from his grandfather. “[I’m] usually a pretty happy-go-lucky person anyway, just letting it ride. Can’t let anything on the outside affect how I feel so it’s going out there and doing what I do and be the same person on and off.”
It might seem like a stretch – and the decision might have already been made – but Thursday night might be the most important game of Thomas’ young career. He has Phillip Sims, a college journeyman who went undrafted and signed with the Cardinals as a free agent, pushing him for the third quarterback spot. It’s a job that, after last year, has become even more coveted.
While Thomas has looked sharp at times and efficient at others, Sims has impressed with his poise and consistency, two traits that aren’t easy to teach young quarterbacks. Thursday night in Denver, with the deadline for teams to cut their rosters to the final 53 about 43 hours away, Sims will start and Thomas will play the second half, giving each one more shot to prove their value to a coach who has a history of recognizing good quarterbacks when he sees them.
“They’ve prepared well for this ballgame,” Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians said. “They both played extremely well last week. It was a nice step forward for them as far as their consistency level in all areas the whole ballgame.
“If they want to get on the roster, that’s the thing that’s going to get them there.”
Thomas has one advantage: He’s already been on the roster.
He feels more comfortable than he did last year at this point – or at any point. He has a better understanding of the offense as a while, which led to a better understanding of where to throw the ball. Admittedly, it took Thomas a while to get there.
“It’s not the ‘wow’ plays,” Arians said. “It’s the consistent level of execution: where your eyes are, not missing reads, being on the right side of the field, not just throwing up a Hail Mary and everybody says, ‘What a great throw for a touchdown.’ He wasn’t seven supposed to be looking at that guy. That kind of stuff.
“Everything’s evaluated that he does from huddle to pre-snap, post-snap and evaluating him in that area.”
Thomas has taken Sims’ competition in stride. He hasn’t changed his preparation. But Thomas is also aware that he hasn’t done enough to separate himself from Sims, saying “I had ups and downs throughout.”
Sims hasn’t backed down either, for which Thomas is proud of the former Alabama, Virginia and Winston-Salem State quarterback.
“It’s definitely made me keep up with my game every day,” Thomas said. “He’s been playing very well, hasn’t done a whole lot wrong, so he’s kept the pressure on.”
If Thomas wins the third job, which could still land him on the Cardinals’ practice squad, there will be one moment that can be looked at as the reason why.
Heading into Sunday night’s game against Oakland, Arians knew what Sims was capable of in the two-minute drill. He wanted to see the same – or better – out of Thomas. Arians played Sims first in the fourth quarter, followed by Thomas, who led the Cardinals on a game-winning drive in the final minute.
Although Arians made that decision public, Thomas said he didn’t know it was happening until the fourth quarter in Oakland. But even though the game meant nothing, Thomas showed he had the cold-bloodedness to move the offense quickly and efficiently, all while injuring his ankle.
He’s still sore and on Tuesday was still 80 percent, but Thomas won’t let it keep him out of the game Thursday.
Not when his future is on the line.
“Just got to go play, do the best I can, like I have been,” Thomas said. “Whatever happens, happens.”
