Cardinals QB Kyler Murray to start Sunday if no setbacks

TEMPE, Ariz. — If everything goes according to plan this week, Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray will make his highly anticipated season debut against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, as confirmed by coach Jonathan Gannon on Monday.

Murray has been sidelined since Week 14 of the 2022 season due to a right ACL tear suffered during a “Monday Night Football” game against the New England Patriots. He will now take the reins of the first-team offense and continue to progress, according to Gannon.

“I am pleased with where he is right now,” Gannon said. “We will monitor how he performs throughout the week.”

The team intends to activate Murray on Wednesday, which is the final day for him to be promoted to the 53-man roster after his stint on the physically unable to perform list. In the event that Murray is unable to play on Sunday, rookie Clayton Tune will start for the second consecutive game, Gannon confirmed.

Gannon stated that the final steps of Murray’s return involve practicing with the first-team unit and ultimately playing in a live game after an 11-month absence. However, the coach acknowledged that Murray may not immediately display the same level of dynamism he exhibited prior to his injury.

“We must be prepared for the possibility that he might not resemble the Kyler we knew,” Gannon cautioned. “But I can guarantee that he will bring his game and contribute to our quest for victory.”

Gannon maintained that the Cardinals’ overall health would not be a factor in determining Murray’s availability. Despite losing two starting offensive linemen in their previous game against the Cleveland Browns and missing tight end Zach Ertz and wide receiver Michael Wilson, the team remains confident in Murray’s ability to play.

“If he is on the field, we believe he is healthy enough to participate,” Gannon affirmed. “Every team in the NFL is dealing with injuries, but we will put forth our best effort and assemble the right pieces to give ourselves a chance to win.”

Thus far, Murray has diligently followed Gannon’s instructions and has set an example for his teammates, according to the coach.

“He is eager to get back in the huddle and assume a leadership role,” Gannon stated.

Murray returned to practice on October 18th and gradually integrated himself back into the offense by sharing first-team reps with Joshua Dobbs and later Clayton Tune. Over the past two weeks, he has primarily thrown passes to practice squad receivers during the publicly accessible portion of practice, while also splitting first-team reps.

However, this week marks a significant change as Murray intensifies his preparations.

“It is exciting to have him back in practice,” Gannon remarked. “He is incredibly competitive and eager to play football. He has exceeded my expectations in terms of his physical and mental readiness, both on and off the field.”