Kyler Murray’s Arizona Cardinals dominated the division-rival Los Angeles Rams in Week 2, beating their NFC West opponents so badly that Murray was able to take a seat late in Sunday’s win.
Why Kyler Murray Didn’t Play in the Fourth Quarter in Week 2
The Cardinals inserted backup quarterback Clayton Tune with 7:59 remaining in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game.
Arizona was up 41-10 at that point. With no danger of losing in Week 2, head coach Jonathan Gannon decided to no longer risk his starting QB’s health.
Murray had already completed 17 of his 31 attempts for 266 yards (12.7 yards per attempt) for three touchdowns before leaving Sunday’s game.
After struggling to find a connection with first-round rookie wideout Marvin Harrison Jr. in Week 1, Murray found the No. 4 overall pick for four catches, 130 yards, and two touchdowns against the Rams.
The Cardinals gave Tune one start before Murray returned from his ACL injury in 2023 — and it could have hardly gone worse for the fifth-round rookie.
Tune completed 11 of 20 passes for just 58 yards, no touchdowns, and two interceptions. His 18.5% passing success rate was the NFL’s fourth-worst single-game mark last season.
The Cardinals will face the Detroit Lions and Washington Commanders at home over the next two weeks.