Jacoby Brissett didn’t just leave Seattle with one of his poorest statistical performances in recent memory. The Arizona Cardinals quarterback also missed out on a potential $285,000 payday because of an unusual incentive buried in his contract.
Brissett’s one-year deal reportedly includes a clause that awards him $285,000 whenever he plays at least 50 percent of Arizona’s offensive snaps and the Cardinals win. That second requirement proved decisive in Week 2.
Arizona’s offense struggled badly against the Seahawks, with Brissett throwing for only 95 yards while completing 60.7 percent of his passes. He finished with one touchdown and one interception as the Cardinals were overwhelmed after an encouraging opening weekend.
The contrast with Week 1 was considerable. Brissett had thrown for 277 yards and a touchdown while completing 73 percent of his passes in Arizona’s 26-14 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers, playing enough snaps and securing the win needed to trigger the incentive.
Brissett can earn millions
The weekly bonus forms part of a reworked one-year agreement worth $15.5 million guaranteed, with incentives capable of pushing its total value to approximately $21 million.
Brissett can reportedly collect the $285,000 win incentive up to 10 times. If he satisfies the conditions on all 10 occasions, that portion alone would be worth $2.85 million.
The structure gives Arizona flexibility while offering Brissett a significant financial reward if he stays on the field and leads the Cardinals to victories. Week 2 showed how quickly that money can disappear.
Seattle’s defense prevented Arizona from developing any rhythm, while the Cardinals’ running game offered little support. Rookie Jeremiyah Love finished with only 29 yards on nine carries.
Seattle had no such problems offensively. Drew Lock threw for 235 yards and three touchdowns, with Jaxon Smith-Njigba catching all three scores as part of a 155-yard performance.
Pressure builds before another difficult matchup
Brissett now gets an immediate opportunity to recover when Arizona faces the San Francisco 49ers.
The Cardinals entered the season viewing the veteran as a short-term starter rather than a long-term answer, and rookie Carson Beck remains behind him on the depth chart.
There’s no indication that Arizona is preparing an immediate change, but the nature of Brissett’s contract means the team has little long-term financial reason to remain committed if the offense continues to struggle.
His Week 1 showing demonstrated that Mike LaFleur’s system can produce results with Brissett at quarterback. Week 2 raised the opposite possibility.
Each start will now carry two separate stakes: Arizona’s position in the NFC West and Brissett’s own earning potential. Playing enough snaps gets him halfway there. Winning is what unlocks the money.
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