After three solid outings, Jacoby Brissett came crashing back to earth against the Seattle Seahawks, reminding everyone why he’s better suited as a backup. Unfortunately for the Cardinals, a change under center isn’t coming anytime soon, as Kyler Murray remains sidelined with lingering injury issues.
Murray’s foot sprain, suffered in Week 5, has kept him out ever since. Here’s the latest on his recovery timeline and when he could finally return to the field.
When Will Kyler Murray Return?
Murray is sidelined with a foot sprain he suffered on October 5 against the Tennessee Titans. Although he managed to finish that game, tests in the following days revealed the injury was more serious than initially believed. While the team labeled him “day-to-day,” his recovery has progressed more slowly than expected and raised growing concern inside the organization.
Arizona had hoped Murray would return after the bye week, but things took a turn for the worse. The Cardinals officially placed him on injured reserve before their matchup with the Seahawks, guaranteeing he’ll miss at least the next four games.
In his five starts this season, Murray, who holds a PFSN QB Impact Score of 75.3 and ranks as the league’s 18th-best quarterback, has completed 68.3% of his passes for 962 yards, six touchdowns, and three interceptions. He also added 173 rushing yards and a score on the ground, guiding the Cardinals to a 2–3 record.
Meanwhile, Brissett has done enough to keep the offense competitive. In four starts, he’s completed 60.9% of his throws for 1,118 yards, eight touchdowns, and just one interception, ranking 15th in QBi after helping snap the team’s five-game losing streak in Week 9 against Dallas.
That success has sparked speculation that Murray may have already played his final game for the franchise. Arizona Sports radio host John Gambadoro asked head coach Jonathan Gannon whether Brissett would remain the starter even if Murray were healthy.
Gannon’s response: “I like where we’re at right now with the offense moving forward.”
That comment, paired with Murray’s $46 million-per-year contract and ongoing injury concerns, raises legitimate questions about his long-term future in Arizona. With the trade deadline now passed, any potential move will have to wait until the offseason, but insiders already believe teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers and Las Vegas Raiders could come calling.
For now, it’s official: Murray won’t play in Week 11, and the earliest possible return would be Week 14 as the Cardinals fight to stay afloat in a tough NFC West.
