Bruce Arians continues to give his coaches a chance to spread their wings.
The Arizona Cardinals head coach said Wednesday that quarterbacks coach Byron Leftwich will call plays in Saturday's game versus the Oakland Raiders, via Darren Urban of the team's official website.
Leftwich joined the Cardinalsfull-time in January after working as an intern last offseason. Arians glowed about the former quarterback this summer.
"He'll be a head coach early and fast," Arians said at earlier this summer.
Saturday's chance to call plays is the latest step in Leftwich's quick ascent.
Arians passed off play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Harold Goodwin for last week's Hall of Fame Game. With Goodwin poised to get more head coaching interviews in 2018, Arians could be auditioning Leftwich to leap into a bigger coaching role down the road.
Leftwich played in Arians' offense for two years while the two were in Pittsburgh.
Starting quarterback Carson Palmer gave Leftwich rave reviews this summer.
"I've been around long enough to know I need it, I need coaching, tips and help and pointers," Palmer said, via Urban. "I know when someone knows it and they don't, and he knows it. I don't care if he's five years younger or 15 years older, he knows what he is talking about. And he played in the same exact system and he played for B.A., so there are a lot of positives with him."
On Saturday, Leftwich will get a chance to show he can do more than give quarterbacking tips.
