The Arizona Cardinals are in a tough spot, with uncertainty at the most important position on the field. A three-game losing streak and a tough road matchup are also on the way. The team’s franchise quarterback, Kyler Murray, is injured, and his availability remains a major question mark.
Will Kyler Murray Play Against the Colts?
Murray did not practice on Wednesday and Thursday as the Cardinals prepared for their Week 6 matchup against the 4-1 Indianapolis Colts.
“Kyler [Murray] will not be out there today. Everybody else will be out there in some capacity. We’ll see how the week goes with all those guys,” Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon said on Wednesday.
Fortunately for the Cardinals, Murray returned to practice on Friday. Barring any late setbacks, he is expected to start in Week 6.
Murray is dealing with a foot injury, which happened in one of the more unusual ways during last Sunday’s loss to the Tennessee Titans.
During the third quarter, Center Hjalte Froholdt snapped the ball directly into Murray’s facemask. Murray had to leave the game and went to the locker room to get checked out, but he did return to finish things out.
Murray is fresh off completing his first full regular season without missing a game. Through five games this year, he’s completed 68.3% of his passes for 962 yards with six touchdowns.
The Cardinals rank 27th in offensive production this season, posting a 68.2 overall score based on PFSN’s Offensive Impact metric.
Gannon made it clear the team is taking things day by day with their franchise signal-caller. “If he’s healthy enough to play, he’ll play,” Gannon said when asked about Murray’s status.
Veteran backup Jacoby Brissett will get the call if Murray can’t go. Brissett signed with Arizona this offseason and is considered one of the better backup options in the league after starting five games last season.
“Well, he’s a true pro. I know that term gets thrown around, but when you’re in his seat – the quarterback position is the hardest position in sports, and to know that you’re one play away from your role changing, you really do got to be on the details like you’re the starter,” Gannon said about Brissett.
The Cardinals are already facing an uphill battle against a Colts defense that’s allowed the third-fewest points in the NFL this season. Playing without Murray would make turning around this three-game skid even tougher. Arizona will practice twice this week before deciding on its star quarterback’s availability.