DerekAnderson

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Matt Leinart has been benched after just two preseason games, this after the Arizona Cardinals gave him the starting job following Kurt Warner’s retirement.

It could be just a temporary move — or maybe not.

“Well, I don’t think we’ve played really well enough offensively to make any determination other than we need to get better,” Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt said Thursday. “We’re looking at different combinations of people.”

What Leinart will be looking at is Derek Anderson, an Oregon State product signed to be his backup, starting Saturday night in Chicago.

Whisenhunt’s expectations aren’t that high, he would just like to see a few first downs.

“I’d like to see us operate a little better early in the game,” Whisenhunt said. “That’s not necessarily the first quarter, that’s the first quarter, the second quarter. Seems like last week we went three three-and-outs, and then we had a drive going.

“I’d like to see us perform a little better earlier in the game.”

Leinart hasn’t be able to get it done. The 10th overall pick in the 2006 draft started for Arizona in a 24-10 loss to Tennessee on Monday night and lasted all of nine plays. He couldn’t produce a first down or any points.

Anderson, who spent his first five NFL seasons in Cleveland, is the quarterback with the most completions (24), throws (41) and yards (193) on the roster.

— The Associated Press