If everything goes well this week, Kyler Murray is expected to begin on Sunday.
Gannon told the PHX Cardinals through video that Kyler is going to keep getting better as quarterback this week.
“He’ll do one rep, and if everything goes well this week, he’ll start on Sunday.” I’m happy with how things are going for him right now. We will see the way the week goes.”
After tore the first cruciate ligament within his right knee 329 days ago, Murray hasn’t played in 329 days. After surgery on January 3, he is finally ready to be taken off the list of players who are “reserved” or “physically unable to perform.” This should happen on Wednesday.
Joshua Dobbs was sold to the Minnesota Vikings last week by the Cardinals, who had just bought him before the season started. He started the initial eight games for the Cardinals.
Saturday, the Browns beat the Cardinals 27-0 in Clayton Tune’s first NFL game as a rookie. Tune was picked in the fifth round.
They have two picks in the first round in the 2024 draft, and with a record of 1-8, they are in the running for the top pick. They will have time to look at Murray and decide what to do with him after the last eight games.
Murray has not played since Week 14 of the 2022 season, when he tore his right ACL three plays during a “Monday Night Football” battle against the Patriots of New England. Gannon said that Murray will work out with the first team offense and continue to “ramp up.”
On Wednesday, the last day of Murray’s window, he will be activated and added to the 53-man squad. He will have been taken off the physically unable to play list.
Cannon said that youngster Clayton Tune will be given his second strait start if Murray can’t play on Sunday.
He said that Murray’s last two steps toward a return are to work out with the first team before he can play in a real game for the very first time in 11 months.
But the coach said Murray could not have been as exciting of a player at first as he was before going hurt.
“We got to be willing to accept that it could not appear like Kyler,” Gannon stated. “And I think he has a good chance of getting that.”
There’s a good chance that will happen, but I know for sure that he will play his best and help us win.
Gannon said that Murray’s play won’t depend on how healthy the Cardinals are. This week, quarterback James Conner can be taken off of injury reserve.
On Sunday in Cleveland, Arizona lost a pair starting offensive tackles who were already hurt. Starting defensive back Zach Ertz as well as wide receiver Michael Wilson were also hurt.
“If he’s on the field, we know he’s healthy enough to contribute,” Gannon said of Murray.
“Every team within the NFL’s banged out, and we’ll put the best foot forward, receive the right pieces within there, and offer ourselves the opportunity to salvage a game.”
On Wednesday, the last day of Murray’s window, he will be activated and added to the 53-man squad. He will have been taken off the medically unable to participate list.
Cannon said that youngster Clayton Tune will be given his second strait start if Murray can’t play on Sunday.
He said that Murray’s last two steps toward a return are to work out with the first squad and then play in a real game for the initial time in 11 months.
But the coach said Murray might not have been as exciting of a player at first as he was before going hurt.
“We got to have people willing to understand why it could not appear like Kyler,” Gannon stated. “And I believe he has a good chance of getting that.”
There’s a good chance that will happen, but I know for sure that he will play his best and help us win.
Gannon said that Murray’s play won’t depend on how healthy the Cardinals are. On Sunday in Cleveland, Arizona lost two beginning offensive tackles who were already hurt. Starting defensive tackle Zach Ertz as well as wide receiver Micheal Wilson were also hurt. This week, quarterback James Conner can be taken off of injury reserve.
“If he’s on the field, we know he’s sufficiently fit to play,” Gannon declared of Murray. “Every team in the NFL’s banged on, so we’ll put our best foot on, get the right pieces in there, give ourselves another opportunity to win a game.”