The NFL season is in full swing. As happens every year, injuries are rearing their ugly heads. As fantasy football managers prepare to set Week 9 lineups, it’s important to stay informed on the latest injury news. Kyler Murray missed the past two games with a foot injury. What is his current status and outlook for this week?
Is Kyler Murray Playing Tonight?
Murray suffered a mid-foot sprain during the Arizona Cardinals’ Week 5 loss to the Tennessee Titans on October 5. The injury, described as a version of a Lisfranc sprain involving the first ray of his foot, forced him to miss the team’s next two games against the Indianapolis Colts and Green Bay Packers.
The two-time Pro Bowl quarterback hadn’t missed any games since returning from his torn ACL in 2023. His absence came at a difficult time for Arizona, as backup Jacoby Brissett struggled to fill the void with the team dropping both games.
The bye week came at an ideal time for Murray’s recovery. Head coach Jonathan Gannon noted that the break was ‘very beneficial’ for both Murray and the team, allowing the quarterback extra time to heal without missing additional games.
Murray was limited at practice all three days this week. He carries a questionable designation heading into Monday night’s game against the Dallas Cowboys.
In a strange situation, Murray is legitimately a gametime decision and may actually be active. However, Brissett is going to start regardless. Gannon said Murray may have a role, though that seems unlikely because if Murray is healthy enough to play, it stands to reason he would start.
Regardless, it doesn’t matter for fantasy managers. If Brissett starts, then you can’t start Murray. This does sound promising for his Week 10 availability, though.
Brissett’s Fantasy Football Outlook
Brissett has already started two games in place of an injured Kyler Murray and they went…pretty well! The veteran journeyman posted QB1 numbers in both with 21.7 and 19.8 fantasy points. While one came against the Colts’ pass funnel defense, the other was against the Packers.
Are we sure Murray is even a better option than Brissett?
Fantasy managers probably shouldn’t plan to start Brissett this week. There are plenty of safer options. But if you need the Cardinals’ quarterback, he hasn’t been bad at all.
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The Cowboys are an everything funnel defensively. They’re allowing the most or second-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers. How will the Cardinals score? However they want.
Given the state of the Cardinals’ running game with Michael Carter, Bam Knight, and Emari Demercado leading the show, it’s more likely they lean on their passing attack, though. Plus, every Cowboys game is a shootout, and Dak Prescott will ensure the Cardinals have to score to win this game.
Brissett is absolutely on the streaming radar.