THE SIDELINES : Phoenix Tabs Rosenbach for QB

The Phoenix Cardinals have ended one quarterback controversy and possibly started another.

Head Coach Joe Bugel announced that second-year pro Timm Rosenbach will make his fourth consecutive start in Friday night’s preseason finale at Denver and also will be the regular-season starter Sept. 9 at Washington.

Bugel added that he and his staff are giving serious consideration to keeping only two quarterbacks this year--meaning either 11-year veteran Gary Hogeboom or third-year pro Tom Tupa could be a goner when the roster is cut from 60 to 47 players next week.

If Bugel decides to keep just two quarterbacks, the 32-year-old Hogeboom may be the one who is released.

Bugel said Tupa “really raised his level” with a good showing in last Saturday night’s 27-7 road loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Tupa, who threw nine interceptions in five games last season, completed 13 of 19 passes for 127 yards and one touchdown in last weekend’s Rams game.

In this preseason, Rosenbach is 22 of 41 for 223 yards with three interceptions and no TDs.

So far in the preseason, Hogeboom has played only the fourth quarter of the 17-9 loss to the Chicago Bears here Aug. 18. He completed 9 of 13 passes for 123 yards and was sacked five times.