TEMPE, Ariz. — Now it’s rookie Logan Thomas’ turn to run the Arizona Cardinals’ offense.

When he takes the field Sunday in San Francisco, the fourth-round draft pick from Virginia Tech will be Arizona’s fourth starting quarterback this year.

Not exactly the recipe for success. But after the offense sputtered with Ryan Lindley at the controls in last week’s debacle against Seattle, Coach Bruce Arians decided to give Thomas a chance, for a little while at least.

“Definitely some excitement,” Thomas said. “First chance to play out one of my dreams and it’s a huge honor.”

Potentially this is not a meaningless game. If St. Louis upsets the Seahawks in Seattle, the Cardinals would win the NFC West with a victory over the 49ers.

Arians said he’ll be watching that Rams-Seahawks score and make personnel decisions accordingly.

“We’ll just see how the games go,” Arians said after Wednesday’s practice. “We want to win the game, though. I want to look at some guys, see how they’re feeling and be smart about it.”

So there could be a quarterback change in the second half?

“Yeah,” Arians said. “I mean everything is based on winning the game and then being smart.”

Arians said Drew Stanton’s sprained right knee is “getting better and better,” but if he suited up Sunday it would be as a backup. Otherwise, Lindley is the only other option.

BRONCOS: Quarterback Peyton Manning said he plans to return in 2015 for his 18th NFL season.

Manning was asked during his weekly news conference if there was a set of circumstances that would lead him to retire.

He replied: “I have not thought about those circumstances at all. So I certainly plan on being back if the Broncos will have me. But at this point, I’m kind of thinking about Oakland (the Broncos’ next opponent).”

JETS: Geno Smith has struggled mightily in his second season, yet believes he can be “part of the solution” at the quarterback position.

Smith, who has 10 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions, said he envisions himself being the quarterback in New York “for a long time.” He adds that he recognizes his poor performance is part of the reason the Jets are 3-12 heading into their season finale Sunday at Miami.

CHARGERS: Running back Ryan Mathews was among those not practicing and he could miss his third straight game Sunday.

If the Chargers (9-6) win at Kansas City this weekend, they’ll advance to the playoffs for the second straight season. But it’s likely San Diego will face the Chiefs (8-7) without Mathews. He hasn’t played or practiced since injuring his ankle Dec. 7.

BENGALS: Quarterback Andy Dalton was sent home from practice because he came down with the flu, the latest player to miss time with an illness going through the team.

The Bengals expect him to play Sunday night at Pittsburgh.

GIANTS: Receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and five other players were fined a total of $72,400 for their actions in Sunday’s melee-marred game in St. Louis.

JAGUARS: Defensive tackle Sen’Derrick Marks said the Pro Bowl is “a political thing” that shows the NFL is “not about players and their performances.”

WASHINGTON: Quarterback Robert Griffin III has a sprained throwing shoulder that limited him in practice as the team prepared for its season finale against Dallas.

COWBOYS: Rainy weather slowed investigators probing a fire that burned the Alabama mansion of linebacker Rolando McClain.

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