Arizona Cardinals franchise quarterback Kyler Murray has been out with a mid-foot sprain suffered in the Week 5 loss to the Tennessee Titans. Still, he appears to be on track to return for Monday night’s matchup against the Dallas Cowboys.
The injury, a version of a Lisfranc sprain, forced Murray to miss the Cardinals’ last two games before the team’s Week 8 bye. Recent developments suggest the quarterback’s recovery has taken a step forward.
Kyler Murray’s Status for Week 9
During Tuesday’s bonus practice session, Murray was seen throwing to the Cardinals’ main receiving options on the field. This was the first time in several weeks that Murray was seen working with Arizona’s first-team offense, according to Tyler Drake of ArizonaSports.com.
“Cardinals QB Kyler Murray got plenty of throws in with main pass catchers (something he hasn’t done in recent weeks) during Tuesday’s practice,” he tweeted.
His participation in the unofficial workout indicates that his foot is responding well and that he’s inching toward a return. Coach Jonathan Gannon confirmed this, telling ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss that Murray is “doing well,” which could mean he is making steady progress in his recovery.
Murray was limited in practice on Thursday, and is currently questionable to play in Week 9 against the Cowboys.
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Before his injury, Murray’s season had its ups and downs. Through five games, he completed 68.3% of his passes for 962 yards, six touchdowns, and three interceptions, adding 173 rushing yards and a score on the ground. His PFSN’s QB Impact Score is 74.8, with a C rating. He ranks 22nd out of all quarterbacks.
The Cardinals’ offense has shown occasional signs of cohesion under him; however, inconsistency and late-game defensive collapses kept those performances from translating into wins.
In Murray’s absence, veteran backup Jacoby Brissett filled in. Over two starts, Brissett completed 64.2% of his passes for 599 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception.
Now sitting at 2-5, Arizona has a steep uphill climb ahead of it in the NFC West, where the Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, and Seattle Seahawks are contending for playoff berths. Murray’s return could provide the strength the Cardinals need to turn their season around, or at least regain some competitive footing after losing five straight games going into the bye week.
