Derek Anderson to Start Over Matt Leinart for Cardinals This Week

Derek Anderson is getting a shot to unseat Matt Leinart as the Arizona Cardinals' starting quarterback.

Coach Ken Whisenhunt announced that Anderson, signed as a free agent during the offseason following his release by the Cleveland Browns, will start Saturday night's preseason road game at Chicago.

The move appears to be a clear response to the Cards' offensive struggles under Leinart, who through two preseason games passed for just 67 yards and led the unit to no points. In Monday night's nationally televised 24-10 loss at Tennessee, the Cards went three-and-out on all three possessions with Leinart, the former Heisman Trophy winner from USC and No. 10 pick in the 2006 draft, under center.

More: Leinart's Time Up in Arizona?

Whisenhunt was asked what he will be looking for from an Anderson-led offense.

"First downs," he said.

Points, too. Whisenhunt may have to be patient, however, as the Cardinals try to piece together a unit that lost quarterback Kurt Warner to retirement and wideout Anquan Boldin in a trade to Baltimore.

"I don't think we have performed the way we should have on offense," said Whisenhunt, whose team remained in Nashville, Tenn., the last couple days for shared workouts against the Titans. "We're looking at different players in different spots."

If Anderson, 27, performs better than Leinart, it would only make sense that he would hold onto the spot for the few starting-unit snaps in the preseason finale against Washington, and likely for Arizona's regular-season opener Sept. 12 at St. Louis.

Anderson, who was a train wreck last year (3 TDs, 10 interceptions, 42.1 rating) during his final season with the Browns, has gone 24 of 41 for 193 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions through two preseason games. He led the Cards on their only scoring drive against the Titans reserves, as well as one TD march the week before against Houston backups.